Hello everyone! This is the beginning of the new me. Follow along as I lose weight, gain strength, and tone up. How I am going to achieve all this.... I have no idea, but I am working on it! :eek:

My current stats:

H/W: 5'11" 265 lbs.
B/F: ~30%

My goal stats:

H/W: 5'11" 190 lbs
B/F: ~10%

I will post here often with pictures, diet, workout program, etc...

Well, I was up most of the night reading the forums, and trying to get a grasp for the long road ahead of me. I hope I do not tick too many people off with my questions; I do however give the search feature a good workout before asking my questions. So far everyone has been super friendly on this site and it looks like it will be a good place for me to hang out and contribute. I just ran to the store to get my fiance some gingerale and some popsicles, she is not feeling well.... I also picked up the latest Muscle and Fitness magazine :rolleyes:

I was going to try and get my eating and exercise plan done today, but it might not be until tomorrow, I want to read up on "cutting" more as well as order a heart monitor.

Ok, back to researching "cutting" and supplements, etc... See ya next post.

Well, I was up most of the night reading the forums [...] I do however give the search feature a good workout before asking my questions.
That's the best way to get your questions answered quickly. Chances are, if you can think of the question, it's probably already been answered here.

Great job starting a journal, too. It's a great way to stay focused and see a history of where you've been. I know that you can do all the things you've said that you want to achieve.

For now, don't focus on the supplements, just get your diet and workout plan down. When you do that, get a good multivitamin and protein powder for a post workout shake. Then, you're good to go for a while.

Congratulations on committing to getting in shape. It may seem like a long road when you're at the starting line, but when you've got some time under your belt you'll be amazed at how quickly it goes, how much you've learned and how much you can get done. Best of luck!

BMR Calculations.

Marcus wrote a fantastic beginners guide for us n00bs on BMR, and calroic intake and foods and it goes on and on.... great great article!

On to my calculations..

Age: 24
Weight: 269 lbs. (122 kg)
Height: 5'11" (180.3 cm)

(66+(13.7x122)+(5x180.3)-(6.8x24)) x 1.55 = 3837

I went with #3 for activity level because my fiance and I go to the gym in the AM every day (M-F); I walk for 30-45 minutes briskly (3.5-4.0 MPH). On the weekends we ride our bikes through the park for anywhere between 30-90 minutes varying intensities.

Anyway, to lose 2 lbs. per week I need to cut my caloric intake by 7000 calories per week; that is 1000 calories per day. So, 3837 - 1000 = 2837 calories is what I should be consuming daily to drop 2 lbs per week,

So... I should also start eating 6 meals a dat at 2837/6 calories per meal: 473 calories per meal. I then went on to calculate the protien, carb, fat breakdown of calories.

PROTIEN (38%):
1 g per pound = 265 g.
269 x 4 cal = 1076 calories from protien.
1076 / 2837 = 38%

FAT (20%):
.20 x 2837 = 567 calories
567 / 9 = 63 g.

CARBS (42%):
100% - 38% - 20%
.42 x 2837 = 1192 calories
4 calories per gram of carbohydrate
1192 / 4 = 298 g.

Summary:
CARBS PROTEIN FAT
42% 38% 20%

Ok.. I am going to see if I can come up with a weekly menu and try and break out the nutrition to coincide with the above %. This should take awhile :p

Hi Pug, thanks for the kind words in my journal, thought I'd repay the favour ;)

Sounds like we have almot identical journies ahead of us and it will be interesting to track how we each do and mutual support could be a very good thing.

Good luck with everything!

Well I am still on this high and I can not seem to take in enough information on fitness, nutrition, etc... It has me so pumped up. I wish I lived in a house and not an apartment because I would gladly invest in some nice workout equipment, but as of now I just don't have the space for anything so I will continue to use the gym here at the complex and figure out what exercises can be had from the equipment there.

I ordered some Whey protien from alltheway.com (http://www.allthewhey.com) (banana and vanilla) so I am looking forward to incorporating that into my diet.

I have also been thinking about buying the Nike Triax C-8 heart monitor which I found at eCost.com (http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecsplash/shop/detail.asp?dpno=465770#scroll) for real cheap, but I can not tell if it is re-conditioned or refurbished or what.... the next lowest price I found was almost $35.00 more, so I have my doubts. I will call them tomorrow from work and find out what the story is on that.

I still am debating on the weight/BF scale versus calipars to keep track of body fat percentages. Seems like some people are strongly apposed to anything but a calipar while others are fine with the digital scales and analyzers. For now I will continue to think about it and try and decide by the time I place the order for the heart monitor.

I have decided to wait until next monday to begin my gym workouts (weights) so I can put together a nice program and get some feedback on it from everyone in the forums. I will continue to do my daily morning cardio however :tu:

The diet is also going to be started on monday, from now until then (August 22, 2004) I am going to be calculating meals, etc so I can roll out the new routine all at once. By then all my equipment will be here as well as my protein, supplements, etc. Until then I will continue to watch what I eat and keep hitting the gym in the AM as I have been doing.

Back to some other work for now, but I will be back to post in the forums later I am sure of it... I am addicted to this place!!! :spaz:

Just a quick post here before I buckle down for a long work day. I ordered my heart rate monitor from eCost.com. I called and got confirmation that the $69.99 was for a New, Factory sealed NIKE TRIAX C-8 heart monitor. On top of the great price, FREE SHIPPING! :tucool:

Anyway, hopefully someone else out there is in the market for one and can benefit form this. I'll be posting more later! Happy monday.

Pug :bb:

Well today was a very interesting day.

No heart burn.
No vending machine purchases at work
No handfulls of candy form receptionists desk
No junk food
No soda
No coffee
No caffeine

Instead:

Lots of water
Ate every 3 hours
Good food choices


Just an all around great first day eating better... and I feel great! :claphigh:

Pug

Well I just got done ordering the rest of my supplies for my new approach to taking back control of my life and weight.

Multivitamin (bodybuilding.com)
Fish Oil Gel Capsules (bodybuilding.com)
Flax Seed Capsules (bodybuilding.com)
Digital Fat Calipar (bodybuilding.com)
Lifting Gloves (bodybuilding.com)
3 Shaker Bottles (bodybuilding.com)
Pill Container (bodybuilding.com)
Nike Triax C-8 Heart Monitor (eCost.com)
Whey Protein (AllTheWhey.com)

I spent about $200.00, but you know what.. that is the same amount of money I would have spent on coffee, bagels, donuts, candy, soda, and beer within 2 weeks at work... so I don't feel guilty one bit. Many thanks goes out to John who provided the links off the homepage to the various vendors. Also, thanks to all the people in the forums who critiqued the different items, etc.

I feel like I have no excuses:
I have the "nice to have" equipment.
I have a mountain bike (Trek 4900)
I live a stones throw from a 25 mile park
I have a limited gym here at my apartment complex
I love to cook
I love to know that I am on making the right decision.

Off I go. I await the 4 shipments in the mail and on Monday the Jounrey begins. In the meantime, I will continue working on my daily meal plans as well as getting all my spread sheets together to track my progress. I am also going to post pictures here, although I am not feeling very comfortable doing so.... screw it, im a new person and I accept it. I see myself posting and being as detailed, if not more than John!... so watch close and please please please gimme feedback as you see me progess; positive and negative!

Well I have a nice bath waiting for me to soak in. Talk to everyone tomorrow!

Pug

Well after a semi-good night of sleep I am at work, feeling good for once. It is just starting to sink in that this is going to be a long road, but then again... who's in a rush :)

BREAKFAST (7:30 AM):
cinnamon/raisen english muffin
1 c. fat free peach yogurt
1 c. strawberries
2 bottles of water

SNACK (9:45 AM):
1/2 Whole Wheat Pita
1/4 c. Grilled Chicken

LUNCH (12:00 PM):
stay tuned!

Hey pug,

Mind if I make some suggestions?

You seem to be reading a lot about all this stuff, and that's great. Here's one of the best sites about fitness I've seen: http://www.fitren.com. Read the "ask tom" and "library" sections. It'll answer a ton of questions you have and teach you about things you've never even considered before. Read all of the articles that seem relevant to you.

He also has a book, Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle. I haven't ordered it but it comes highly recommended. It's $40, I think, but from what I've heard it's well worth the money. I haven't bought it because I don't have a credit card.

Also, here's a way to help you avoid missing workouts. Open up Word, or any word processor, and create a 7x7 table. The top row should have the days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, etc. Each subsequent row has the workout that you planned for that day with a "[ ]" next to it. Make a six week calender. For example, here's mine (http://users.adelphia.net/~ybechor/sched.htm).

Print it out and put it on your refridgerator. Take a pen and mark in the "[ ]" every time you complete a workout. It'll motivate you to not miss a work out because you know you're going to have to see that missed workout every time you go to the fridge. It excites you to push yourself to say, "I will not miss a workout these 6 weeks!" You want to go as long as possible without missing a workout. And then, when missing workouts is never a problem, you start to dial in on your diet to make sure you're getting the most out of your workouts (though by the looks of it you've got that covered).

Don't worry about getting exactly 40/40/20 protein/fat/carbs. It's the trend that matters.

Thanks for the good advice french!
The link you sent it awesome, lots of good info there. I am glad I am taking the time to read and research and ask questions before just going full bore.

Pug

Well today was great. I ate very well, drank a crap load of water, and my AllTheWhey protien came in... took 1 day!!! I live a couple hours from their distro warehouse in PA, so I expected it. I got the vanilla and the banana... both smell great. I can't wait to taste them!!

My Tanita scale also came in. I stepped on the thing to test it out, but will not be recording my initial weight until the morning. I was a bit pissed that I am heavier than I thought, but whatever, I'm here to lose it all... all in due time!

Tomorrow the rest of my stuff should show up and my heart monitor on monday. I am dead beat and run down from working so much, I have a few days off coming up, and they are going to be my start days. Til then I continue to refine my workout program as well as my food selections. By Monday I will be on my way. I am glad I am learning all I can without just diving in blind.

Pug

Well, I must say that AllTheWhey.com and BodyBuilding.com are two phenominal companies. Both processed my orders within less than a day and I received the shipments in the mail within 1 and 2 days respectively! Today the final BodyBuilding.com order showed up.

Being the software dork I am, I decided to ditch the standard Excel type sheets to keep track of my progress and stats and instead developed a database in SQL Server that is as about as robust as you could imagine for keeping track of things, not to mention the analysis possiblities! Once of my goals on my week off coming up is to launch my personal website where I will house my results and blog.

Anyway, I have been struggling with figuring out what specific muscles I need to workout, there are so many! When someone says back and shoulders, I say, well what muscles!?!!?!?!?! This website (http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html)is coming in very handy however so as I learn more and more of the the weekend, I should have my final workout plan, eating plan, and initial stats all set to go. As I read through the last few posts it sounds like I am all talk and no walk.... rest assured, I'm determined to take control of my health and weight and get into the shape that I know I can acheive.

Well, my fiance is sick so to avoid me getting sick I have been sleeping on the couch and tonight should be the last night of that; needless to say my back is hurting me and my neck is a little stiff. Can't wait to get back to the bed!

Well I am off for now. Talk to everyone tomorrow! Everyone... hmmm, I mean myself LOL No one responds to my journal... yet :tu:

Take care everyone.

Pug

Well I am off to the grocery store to stock up on food! I was going to wait until Monday to start my "cutting", but why???... I am sick fo typing about what I am gonna do, now I am doing it! Tomorrow is cardio, weigh-in, pictures, measurements. I will make a nice big post tomorrow, although I am still very hesitant about the pictures since my gut looks like a tiger scratched me with all the damn stretchmarks... a constant reminder of how bad I have gotten. Ok Ok Ok.. no more self pity, off to the store I go.

Big post tomorrow!

Pug. :tu:

Nice, I can't wait for your post. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress in the future.

You go Pug! Keep up the great spirit!

:claphigh:

Well... after slipping into something more comfortable (super tight ass Nike running shorts) I was ready to take some pictures. I am so not impressed with these, and frankly they disgust me. I feel bad that my fiance had to go through this and take them for me. I can't wait for the day when we both look forward to taking them. Anyways, I am way fatter than I thought. I walk around all day holding it in I guess, and wear my pants on my hips and not my waist. Well, anyways, here is ground 0, the starting point. Only moving in one direction from this point on... forward.

I will edit the post in the AM with measurements and weight and BF%. Oh joy :rolleyes:


Off to bed before the morning workout.

Ok, got up no problem for the quick cardio workout (heart monitor not here yet though...).

Stats:

Weight (Tanita Scale): 269.00
Body Fat% (Tanita Scale): 30.7
Chest: 49.5"
Waist: 49.5"
Neck: 17.5"
Hips: 45.75"
Thighs: 26.5"
Calves: 16.5"
Wrist: 8.9"

Those numbers are depressing. Grrr.

Pug

Great cardio workout this morning. I hopped on the treadmill for 45 minutes and walked briskly at about 3.8-4.2 mph and even jogged a bit at 5.5 (have to be careful not to get shin splints early on).

Anyway, the cup of coffee before going to the gym really helped alot... got me moving.

Time for my first stab at eating 6 times a day and carefully keeeping track of what I eat. Starting with breakfast!!!

I'm sure I will be on here later, gabbing away, but for now its eat time, then off to work (weekend OT, ugh) then home tonight for the Dolphins/Redskins game from Miami!!! Yeah!! Go Fins!! :tu:

Pug

I was worried about taking a vitamin, flax seed, and fish oils and not getting an upset stomach.... but low and behold, all is good. Feeew. :)

They AllTheWhey shake I had this morning was absolutely AWESOME: 1 scoop banana whey, 1 cup no fat yogurt, 1 cup skim milk... shaker cup... freezer for 10 minutes... mmmmmm :nod:

Ok back to work.

Pug

Those numbers are depressing. Grrr.
or Those numbers are motivtating! When I look(ed) at pics of myself it was real depressing, but I had to poot that attitude or it would have been real easy to run back to the old ways.

6 small meals is going to really make you feel good all day long, esp. on that weekend work OT. I'm there now too, banging away at the keys.

:tu:

:-) gotta love software development deadlines... damnit. :D

As long as I am home in time for my Fins game at 7:30 tis all good!

Do you use AIM? My name on AIM is mtangorre if ya wanna chat!

Keep up the good work!

Pug

Good job with the pics.

Also, you might not actually be 30% bf. It seems that the limit for bodyfat scales seems to be at 30%. I'm not sure, though.

I checked it three times on the scale... I got 29.8%, 30.3%, and 30.2%. Then I went to the calipar and got 22%, 25%, 30%. So I did the calipar about 10 times until I was consitantly getting the same reading, which was 30%. Its tough... I am most interested in just seind a continuous decrease, regardless of starting number. :-)

Well, today was a great day. I got up at 5:20, made a 2 cup pot of coffee. Drank 1 cup and walked to the gym. Did 45 minutes of cardio on the treadmill, averaging about 4.0 mph. I worked up a nice sweat and until I get my heart monitor in the mail I am winging it.

The whole eating 6 times a day is nice! Although, I am having trouble eating all my calories.I was under 2,000 around 8:00 PM tonight and still needed to get close to 2800. I went out and got some natural PB as recommended by Billy. I had 2 tbsp and a protien shake putting me closer to my goal.

Here is my food from today:

Meal #1
Whey, Skin Milk, Fat Free Yogurt, Supplements
Calories: 304
Protien: 39 g
Fat: 3 g
Carbs: 30 g

Meal #2
Salad, Cucumber, Celery, Grilled Chicken, Italian Dressing, 1/2 Atkins Bar
Calories: 368
Protien: 32 g
Fat: 13 g
Carbs: 31 g

Meal #3
Apple, 1/2 Atkins Bar, Fat Free Yogurt, Pretzels
Calories: 400
Protien: 19.5 g
Fat: 5 g
Carbs: 84 g

Meal #4
Pretzels, Baked Dorritos, Grilled Chicken
Calories: 400
Protien: 25 g
Fat: 9 g
Carbs: 55 g

Meal #5
Fat Free Cheese, Lean Turkey Sausage, 2 Eggs, Egg whites
Calories: 398
Protien: 53 g
Fat: 13 g
Carbs: 6 g

Meal #6
Natural Peanut Butter, Skim Milk, Whey, Fat Free Yogurt
Calories: 504
Protien: 50 g
Fat: 17 g
Carbs: 40 g

The numbers I was aiming for were:
Calories: 2837
Protien: 265 g
Fat: 63 g
Carbs: 298

The numbers I got were:
Calories: 2454
Protien: 313 g
Fat: 60 g
Carbs: 268

It is gonna take some time to get used to so much planning for meals and such but this sounds like a good start. I am definitely not doing the baked durrito thing again; the pretzels are enough of that type of food.
Other than that, everything was good!

Please comment on my first day of calculated, planned eating.

Pug :tu:

When someone says back and shoulders, I say, well what muscles!?!!?!?!?!

These forums are a big help: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=8

Especially this thread: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=143006

You are gonna do great! I can tell by your enthusiasm.
Also, not to be a bummer cuz your measurements contradict this, but www.fitren.com (http://www.fitren.com/res3ask.cfm?compid=18&qaid=40) says Tanita scales aren't very accurate when measuring body fat.

These forums are a big help: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=8

Especially this thread: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=143006

You are gonna do great! I can tell by your enthusiasm.
Also, not to be a bummer cuz your measurements contradict this, but www.fitren.com (http://www.fitren.com/res3ask.cfm?compid=18&qaid=40) says Tanita scales aren't very accurate when measuring body fat.
Just what I was looking for!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to find those and post them here for me. Rock on!!! :tu:

Pug

Well, after a crappy night of sleep I dragged my ass out of bed this morning and went to the gym anyway. :D

I have all my meals made and ready to go to work with me. I am also looking forward to starting at the gym tonight with weight training. I am working late so I won't be getting to the gym until about 7:00 PM or so.

I am feeling very good and my eating is 100% better. Counting everything is tedious but well worth it... you actually take accountability for what you put in your mouth, so you gotta make good selections!

Have a good day everyone.

Pug

I'm telling ya, these Olympics are too damn exciting, I can't get myself into bed before midnight. Ugh! Despite this, I still drag my ass out of bed between 5 and 530 to walk the 1/8 mile to the gym at my apartment complex to do cardio for 45 minutes :tu:

The eating is going very well... lots of tunafish, light mayo, grilled chicken, protien shakes, veggies, eggs, apples, bananas, atkins bars, oatmeal, etc... I am tyring new foods all the time and keeping a detailed log. I would like to post my meals on here everyday and when things calm down a little at work I will.

I made an ass of myself at the gym yesterday, I had a routine all planned out to start with, then I got reading the MAX-OT PDF. It really made sense the way the author described and explained things, so I decided my current routine was not the route I wanted to go. So I figure I will go acclimate myself with some of the new MAX-OT exercises, since most of them I did not even know how to do or where to begin with them, ugh. So I go to the gym and immediately feel uncomfortable. Big muscles heads everywhere and the gym is crowded as hell, around here busy time is 3 PM til 9 PM. I go in and try and figure out where everything is. I used the cardio room many times before but never ventured into the weight room, so it was foreign soil. I saw a squat machine and a whole lot of other machines: lat pull down, assisted dips/pullups, etc. It was all very overwhelming so I went to the front desk to see if a trainer was available. I have no idea how to do deadlifts, squats, etc. I see it online explained and even the animated pictures but lets face it, the real thing is much different and one slip up or bad form can really hurt you so I figured i'd enlist the help of a trainer to at least get me going and help me with form and initial weight. :bb: I hope they know what MAX-OT is because that is where I would like to start. Anyway, it is probably going to cost me $100 or so to get a couple training sessions, but I need to do it; I am determined to get into the weight room and be successfull. I have a training session wednesday, so that will be my start of the gym portion of my new plan.

Shit.. I forgot my vitamin this morning... *calls fiance to bring it to me; along with my fish oils and flax seed oil.

back to work...

Pug

I see it online explained and even the animated pictures but lets face it, the real thing is much different and one slip up or bad form can really hurt you so I figured i'd enlist the help of a trainer to at least get me going and help me with form and initial weight. :bb: I hope they know what MAX-OT is because that is where I would like to start.

Sorry to butt in like this but if you are just trying to get the form right on exercises, I don't think it really matters whether they know MAX-OT or not. The exercises and physicall performing a single exercise is the same in MAX-OT as in other training methods, it's other things that are different, like intensity and repetiotions.

Once you just learn correct form for the suggested MAX-OT exercises (maybe you could print a part of the MAX-OT PDF and show them what exercises MAX-OT consists of) I don't think you have any problem in doing them.

Good work!

Hi Pug, I read your journal nd might I suggest this to start your max-ot http://www.ast-ss.com/training/getting_started/getting_started.asp?part=1

I have been doing max-ot for 3 weeks now with noticable strength gains and loss of bodyfat. I highly recommend it but make sure your muscles are ready for it and avoid injury.

best of luck
rock on!
rr

Well my heart rate monitor arrived as promised. eCost sucks and I cancelled the order after they gave me the runaround for over a week. I wound up getting it from this place near baltimore, md.. Nike Triax C8! I am pumped.

Just a quick post... off to play with my new toy! WooT

Pug

Got a good cardio workout in this morning and even got to test out the new heart rate monitor.... it syncs up with the treadmill I use at the gym... AWESOME! I can see that it will be much more beneficial when I begin HIIT cardio, but for now, it lets me know im in the fat burning range, which is most important.

I am supposed to have a training session at the gym today with a PT to go over routines and such for my lifting program, but I have to work late tonight and rest of the week so I might have to postpone lifting until next week. Cardio will always be taking place however.... 5 AM :tu:

Big thank you goes out to Ken_In_Canada who has really been a good friend and motivator. I barely know this guy and he has been super willing to assist me in finding information, explaining things, critiquing my diet and workout plans, etc. Thanks Ken!

Because I was sucked into the ladies gymnastics exhibition last night, I did not prepare my food for today, so I am going to do that now and then get ready for work. Have a good one everyone.

Pug :cool:

Buzzzzzzin for some natty PB :spaz:

Pug

Woot!!

:D

Damn, your energy is so motivational! I'm ready for an AM cardio session tomorrow.

Thanks French :)

I am just so sick of being fat and out of shape and huffing and puffing for air walking up the steps that I will continue to be motivated until the cucking fows come home!!!! :spaz: :spaz: :spaz: :spaz:

This morning's cardio was cut to 30 minutes as I try and remember that although I used to run a mile in 4 minutes 51 seconds, that was 10 years ago and I am 100 pounds heavier now... and prone to shin splints!

I had a great breakfast... more calories and macros than usual but for me this seems to be the best bet.. then I have a few less at each other meal... really gets me going in the AM:eat:

Ok, lunch break over.. back to work!

Pug

I am closing in on a week of my new lifestyleand it feels fan-freaking-tastic!!! I was bad and kept checking the scale this week out of curiosity, which I don't recommend since it does not change that much in the first week obviously. Tomorrow will be my 7th day in a row of morning cardio, which is awesome. I will write a more thorough critique of the first week saturday morning after weighing in and taking measurements.

Work is kicking my ass lately, we have some huge software projects being released over the next two weeks, so I am going to be limited to cardio I think and then will get the weights integrated into my new lifestyle.

Well thats all... feeling good and going to bed. :tu:

Pug

Cardio this morning was great, I switched to the bike after 16 minutes on the treadmill because I could feel my shins getting "splint" :) and didn't want to take the chance of injuring them. The chicks hogged the elliptical machines all morning or else I would have went on one of them:spaz: .

I have a hectic day at work today, but feel good and can't wait to weigh in and check my stats tomorrow AM and post my results!!!!!!!!

Have a good day everyone!

Pug

I think this is the first time in a long time where no matter how stressful work gets I am not stressing out myself. I have a boat load of energy and have much better focus.... awesome.

That's all.. :jumping:

Pug

Hey pug,

The reason I mentioned earlier that you may not be 30% is because you may not appear to be losing bf% very quickly, even though you're dropping weight. That's not because you're losing muscle (it's unlikely that at your weight and your solid diet and routine you'll lose much muscle), but because you were above 30% bf when you started.

Hope this helps

Good point French. I am takign averages from the fat % from a couple different methods so at least I will be consistant. I can't wait to weigh in tomorrow!!!!

Pug

RESULTS!!!!!

Well today starts week 2 and I must say, week 1 was tough, but I did see some results. Week 1 results are:

Neck: 17.25"
Wrist: 7.75"
Forearm: 12.75"
Bicep: 15.75"
Chest: 48.75"
Waist: 49.50"
Hips: 45.00"
Thigh: 26.00"
Calve: 17"

Body Fat: 29.2%
Weight: 267.2

The measurements were tough to take since I am not sure if I am hitting ths same spots as the previous week, but they are close. The weight and BF were taken 5 times each and averaged.

Overall, I am right on cue, 2 lbs. per week was the goal and week 1 I lost 2 pounds. :tu:

Things to remember this week: watch peanut butter intake, push self harder on the treadmill in the AM, write everything down that I eat, keep eating clean!

Off to do cardio then I am going to the Zoo with my fiance!! Woo Hooo!

Pug

Just got in from a nice cardio workout! Brisly walked for 2.5 miles... jogged .25 miles, then wrapped it up with a brisk walk for .25 miles... for a total cardio time of 45 minutes. I find the jog towards the end keeps me loose and helps get the muscles ready for a tougher push down the road. :)

I have to work today unfortunately, and until September 7th rolls around I am EXTREMELY busy at work. I will be doing cardio only until after september 7th at which point my weight training will get underway.

I feel great and am off to eat a nice breakfast!!! Enjoy the day, outside here in Maryland it is fantastic!!!

Pug

Had an awesome morning of cardio... 45 minutes on the tradmill at 4.0 miles and hour up until the 40 minute makrer, then I kicked it into high gear (7.0 miles per hour) for the last 5 minutes... my legs wanted it, I swear :) . It felt great! I can feel the muscles in my legs really being worked!! It also made me feel better for eating 3 extra pretzels. :tu:

Anyway, eating very well today and trying to catch up on some water... have a good Monday!

Pug :jumping:

Finally I feel tired enough to go to sleep before 11:00. Looks like the slight increase is duration of my morning cardio is kicking in :)

Awesome.

Pug

Today was my 11th day in a row of cardio; 45 minutes per day... all in the AM. I am extremely proud of myself for this. I went from doing cardio sproadically here and there to 11 solid days of cardio and I feel great!!!!

One thing I need to work on however is drinking enough water throughout the day, eating all my calories (it's tough, need to alter my food choices to add more calories per meal), and sticking strong to my eating times:
7:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 10:00 PM, and finally I need to be in bed no later than 10:30. I will be focusing extra hard on all this starting right now, which means I have 9 minutes to make breakfast!

Have a great day everyone!!!

Pug :tu:

Guy, your energy is incredible. Your are truly a motivational tool that if you don't mind, Im gonna use. Looks like we both started about the same time, Ive been reading your post since you started and really man I mean it, it really motivates me to know that somebody else is "early rising" to knock out that cardio.

Good luck with everything man with your dedication you will get the results you want.

Fill free to chime in to my journal and give me tips or give me sh%@ if Im slacking

wallerdc

Guy, your energy is incredible. Your are truly a motivational tool that if you don't mind, Im gonna use. Looks like we both started about the same time, Ive been reading your post since you started and really man I mean it, it really motivates me to know that somebody else is "early rising" to knock out that cardio.

Good luck with everything man with your dedication you will get the results you want.

Fill free to chime in to my journal and give me tips or give me sh%@ if Im slacking

wallerdc

Wallerdc,

Thanks for the kind remarks; but I must be honest. What keeps my energy going is knowing I have a slew of other people feeding off my energy just as I feed off of everyone else's!!! It's a great system. I really enjoy people responding to my journal, it keeps me very motivated and on course.

I will definitely add your journal to my daily checklist of people to keep up with, no problem... I will comment and converse and help you just as much as you and everyone else have been helping me.

Now.. I just got done eating 2 chicken breasts that were marinated in hot sauce and grill seasoning and my FRACKING MOUTH IS ON FIRE!!!:o :o :o

Good way to get the gallon of water down however. :jumping:

Take care everyone and keep responding, I enjoy your comments and suggestions.

Pug

Another good cardio workout in the AM. Kicked the incline up to 2.0 at 3.8-4.0 MPH. It felt great. I kept my heart rate in the fat burning zone and didn't sweat as much, but it still felt good.

I grilled some chicken up last night... fantastic! Hot sauce, and McCormick grill seasoning.. marinated... grilled... mouth on fire! I will take some of that to work today with my additional food items.

Can't wait to start my weight lifting routine as well here in about another week and a half. That should really help move me along.

Well off to shower, eat, and head to work.. oh yeah, I'll get dressed too :cool:

Have a good one everyone.

Pug :tu:

Just another quirky thing I noticed today.... I was out cleaning my car and found this old ring I used to wear in my console. I thought I had chucked it out the window when I tried to put it on a few weeks ago and it didn't fit... not, it slides right off if I hang my arm down to the side.

Just another little thing to keep the motivation :tu:

Well off to bed for me. Day #13 in a row of morning cardio is coming up early and I can't wait for it!!!

I'll be back in the morning!

Pug

YES!!!! No hurting shins this morning while doing my 45 minute cardio! I was really pushing it too. Started out at 1.5 incline at 3.9 MPH for about 2.5 miles. Then I was feeling so good at the 40 minute marker I kicked it up to 6.5 MPH for the last 5 minutes and it felt great! I doubt my legs will be forgiving everyday, so I will try and kick into run mode every other day for 5 minutes at the end of my workout and eventually phase it in more. Right now I am on a roll and don't want to hurt my shins or knees. :tu:

Anyway, I see I just hit the 2 page marker on my journal... WOW... this thing is going to be about 5,000 pages by the time I get down to 190 lbs :spaz:

Well time to go mix up my protien shake: frozen strawberries, fat free milk, yogurt, and banana whey protien powder... :drool: :drool: :drool:


Have a good day everyone.

Pug

Pug,

I love your journal. Thought I was enthusiastic but you my friend, you are an example. Keep up the good work and never stop updating the journals. There are freaks like me that get a kick from reading and it helps us as well !

Haven't found the nerve to do weight training yet but Ive been doing cardio 4-5 times a week for like 8 weeks now. Lost nearly 10 pounds without much diet but recently started cutting down on sweets and sticking to mostly water.

If you keep it this way Pug, Im sure you'll reach your goal, nice work in the gym and good journal.

Cheers bud
Nando

Thanks Nando!

I find the the journal is a great place for me just let loose, be funny, record my progress and hopefully motivate others as this site has motivated me!

You keep up the good work as well... watch your diet... eat clean... exercise regularly and you will see great things happen to your body. I feel great and it is only the end of week 2. Albeit I still weigh about the same as a small herd of cattle, I KNOW I WILL get down to a comfortable weight in due time.

Check back as often as you'd like; it makes me feel good to know others take interest in my evolution to a better body and health.

Take care bud! *off to look at your journal :tu:

Pug

Well today is my fiance's first day of teaching and we have to leave the house here at 630, so I had to cut my workout to 30 minutes instead of 45. BUT.... I did crank up the incline to 2.5 and walked briskly for 20 minutes and jogged the last 10 so I feel good about it. :cool:

Today and this weekend are going to be crazy at work... a huge software project is getting released soon. Ugh. Oh well.

I can't wait to weigh in tomorrow and see another 2 lb loss (fingers crossed). I feel great now I wanna see the numbers back me up damnit. :D

Have a great Friday everyone and if you are traveling for the holiday let the road ragers pass you, let the old lady go 40 in a 65, stop every 45 minutes to stretch and walk around, and be safe.

Pug

I just finished two weeks of eating clean (with 2 minor incidents that I will not let happen again) and I feel great still. I am down 4 full pounds and have worked out everyday doing cardio in the AM on an empty stomach.

I see the results!... and co-workers and my fiance have all commented on my face looking less bloated and my pants are fitting less snug, etc... its great!

I have a ton of work and grad school homework to do, ugh. Right now I gotta down some water, take my supplements, and go get my haircut :)

Have a good week everyone and I will be post again soon.

Pug

A great morning cardio workout! Wooo Hoo. 45 minutes on the treadmill at 3.5 MPH and 5.5 incline. HR was between 125-141 and it felt great... sweat my ass off... literally :D

Yesterday I was way under calories but not that hungry.. I slept in and took a nap... the 12 hour days at work are catching up so I needed to catch up to. No big deal, I am feeling refreshed this morning as I drink down a nice protien shake with yogurt, milk and strawberries... hmmmm!

I got my haircut yesterday and my face is noticably thinner; I love it! I see no problem keeping up with this. The benefits of being healthy are 100x better than a big mac will ever taste.

Have a good day everyone. I am off to do more wedding planning and homework. :tu:

Puggggggggggggggggggg :cool:

Had an OK morning cardio workout. This is the first morning where it was tough to get through 45 minutes. It seemed as if the clock was moving at half pace! This is from my busy weekend I am sure; I was just tired, but I pressed through it. Doing 3.6 MPH at a 5.5 incline and sweating my butt off.

Today I am suppose to be off of work but I have to work from home for a couple hours since I have a PM who can't manage a paperbag. :p

Oh well.. I will hit the shower, make some breakfast, and be back in front of the PC.

Have a good day everyone.

Pug :tu:

Had a pretty good morning workout... 50 minutes of cardio on the treadmill. I walked briskly at 3.6 MPH at an incline of 5.5. As soon as my shins and calves get stronger or used to all the exercise I will move the speed up some. My head wants to push harder but my shins tell me otherwise. I have been increasing the incline for a week or so and should probably get aclamated at these settings before pushing harder.... no rush.

I have a hellatious work week coming up. I am greatful for Monday off, but today is tuesday and its back to the grind for so many of us. The big software project I mentioned in previous posts launches in 10 days and I have a lot to do to ensure that happens trouble free.

That being said, I have to pack my meals for the entire day, minus my evening protien shake. Well off to eat breakfast and make some meals. Have a good Tuesday everyone and keep up the good work. :tu:

Pug

Not a happy camper. I am finding myself sliding on my diet; not in terms of eating bad or junk, but rather food selections at certain times of the day. For instance, I am putting strawberries in my evening protien shake as well as having an apple, ugh... all that sugar festering in my body while I sleep... no thanks. Also, I find myself consuming way too many pretzels. Pretzels are the devil ;) , you just keep eating them! Same goes for natty peanut butter. Since I am not even done with my third week of eating great and working out, I am going to pay better attention now, as apposed to getting really pissed off down the road when I stall or start gaining!

Anyway, rant over. Back to the morning check-in.

This morning I crawled out of bed and felt good. Got to the gym and did 50 minutes on the treadmill which was 3.0 miles. For most of the workout I stayed at 3.6 MPH and 6.0 incline. Obviously I worked up to that for a few miutes, but it felt great. The more I focus on my stride and steps and arm pumping, the more my legs stay on a nice path and my shins are less likely to act up.

The busy week continues at work this morning so let me make some breakfast, pack some meals, and get to work.

Have a good wednesday everyone.

Pug :tu:

Had a good cardio workout this morning... I feel great! I found another journal of inspiration last night, "Studly Shafe". This guy is a remarkable story... goes from 280 to 175 and looks like a freaking GQ cover page.... all I can say is WOW. I started out at 269 so I know right where he came from and it is awesome to see where I can get to also if I continue to put in the hard work each and every day. I can't stop thinking about getting into that shape... unreal.

This morning I was feeling so good at the 40 minute marker that I ran one full lap at 6.0 MPH and 6 incline! LOL WTF!! :) To be honest, it felt great! Way out of fat burning zone, but what the hell... gotta push yourself. I notice myself not getting a lot out of 6.0 incline at 3.5 MPH.. I might try 6.0 and 3.7 MPH tomorrow.

I am also going to start writing things down again that I eat.. I think I am undereating by a lot and I do not want it to hurt me!

Work just got 100x more hectic. My PM turned in her resignation yesterday, leaving me the possibility of stepping up; yes me, at the young age of 24... yikes! :spaz:

Ok, off to breakfast, shower, then work... Have a great Thursday!!

BTW, Colts v Patriots tonight.. I hope the Colts stomp the crap outta the patriots; I can't stand them!!!! :d_eek:

Adios!

Pug

Today was the 30 minute cardio workout, like last friday, and all the fridays to come. :) My fiance has to teach today so we are out of the house by 6:30, making time really tight!

I did 30 minutes of cardio at 6.5 incline at 3.8 MPH... a little bit higher than usual but what the hell, it felt good and my legs got a nice workout!

Super busy at work today, but feel free to drop in and say hello on AIM, or MSN. mtangorre is the handle on both.

I can't wait to weigh in tomorrow... should be down 1-2 pounds. Perfecto!

Adios!

Pug :tu:

Weekly Checkin!

Well this morning I woke up and grabbed the myotape, fat calipar, and scale and went off for my weekly stat gathering.

FANTASTIC!!!! 262.2 lbs. :jumping: :jumping: :jumping:

I won't bore you with all the stats like neck and chest and this and that... they are reducing by about 1/8 to a 1/4 inch per week.

Cardio this morning rocked. I was pumped up from weighing myself and just blasted through 45 minutes at 3.7 MPH at a 6.0 incline on the treadmill. My legs are getting in such great shape... come on belly, catchup!!! :cool: I sweat a crapload this morning so I should go rehydrate myself and eat some breakfast before heading into work for a couple hours.... i will be so glad when I am back to a normal work schedule.

Then tonight it is off to Baltimore for a nice Ani Difranco concert with the fiance!

Everyone stay on course, have a good weekend, gimme some feedback, and for the love of god, drink yur freaking water!!! :flex:

Pugggger

Got in very late from the Ani Difranco concert in Baltimore so I was going to make today my first day off in over 3 weeks, but I couldn't! My body wouldn't let me! I got up and instead of doing 45 minutes, I did 30 minutes at 3.7 MPH at an inlicne of 6.0. Not too shabby. :cool:

I was way under calories yesterday, mainly because I was not hungry and did not feel like eating.. now there's a first. Anyway, we stopped at a diner on the way home last night and I ate a couple chicken fingers and a diet coke. Despite the fried chicken fingers, I still was still off yesterday.... I am proud of myself for not ordering a dessert or anything too bad. I guess I will consider yesterday a day for my first cheat meal. However, its not going to happen again... I woke up feeling shitty, and that is not good. I like the way I have been feeling when I wake up, so cheat meals are out for now! :eek:

Anyway, gotta pack a couple meals and head into work. I was planning on wathcing football all day but a deadline coming up at work deems I come in. Damnit. Oh well.

Enjoy the day and comment away.

Pug

Had a pretty good cardio workout this morning. At the 17 minute marker I lost all my energy though and felt like going home and crawling back into bed... then about 10 seconds later I got a second wind and busted through the last 28 minutes at 6.0 incline and 3.7 MPH. I can feel my legs really getting worked out and it feels great.

Well this should be the last busy week of work for awhile then I go on vacation for a week! :cool:

Well, I packed all my meals last night so I guess I will hit the shower and head into work a little earlier!

Have a great Monday everyone... if such a thing exists :spaz:

Pugster

Had a pretty good workout this morning... went by very quick. I was very tired last night and got to sleep fairly early (didn't even watch the monday night football game!! :p )

Anyway, I was at an incline of 6.0 again and varied the MPH between 3.5 and 3.7.

I didn't eat enough yesterday so I need to focus on that more today. I have a crazy busy day at work coming up... ugh. Just a couple more days and then I have some nice vacation time coming up! Woo Hooo.

Have a good tuesday everyone, I am off to eat and head out to work.

Pug

Hey man, just caught a glimpse of your progress so far in your signature. You are movin! I've got more of a resolve to keep up with my own cardio after seeing your dedication. Keep pluggin along, and you'll probably have a ton of time to fine tune yourself before your goal date! Later bro.

-Shafe

Well this morning kind of sucked: 1.5 pounds heavier. I know I know... wait til saturday morning to weigh in. Work has been so busy these past 2 days that eating all my calories throughout the day is almost impossible. In addition my water intake is way below 1 gallon per day, ugh. I guess it is true that eating your calories and drinking your water is a must... not that I am purposely lacking in these areas, it is just tough the past 2 or 3 days with all that is going on at work.

All that being said, I pushed myself hard this morning. 7.0 incline on the treadmill with an average speed of 3.6 miles per hour. I just sweat my ass off and my hamstrings and calves got quite the push!

So I will keep plugging away and see what Saturday has in store. I am definitely going to try and drink more water today as well as get my meals in to the time slots the best I can given my work situation for the rest of the week.

Well off to the showers, I am soaking my computer chair with my swamp ass :cool:

Have a good Wednesday!

Pug

Well after 26 straight days of cardio I needed a day off to sleep in a little. My work days are extremely long (15 hours) as I try and get a software release out the door on time.

7 days a week doing cardio feels great but I fear that only going on 3 or 4 hours of sleep the next day or so won't be healthy for me so I will continue eating clean and have to kick the cardio until Saturday or will just be too run down.

I am actually tired now and have to get to work.

have a good one everybody!

Pug

I am on the verge of a complete fukin meltdown. 75 hour work weeks at a 40 hour salary can kiss my overworked ass. I have an unreachable deadline and will be working around the clock til Sunday to meet it. Horseshit. I am extremely pissed and people looking at me wrong make me wanna scream! Ugh Ugh Ugh Ugh Ugh
If I hadn't invested so much time and energy into my health the last month I would be binging on mcdonalds and subway cookies... but fuck if I let this crappy work schedule get me down.

2 weeks vacation in october is in order.

sorry, needed to vent someplace.

pug

I am on the verge of a complete fukin meltdown. 75 hour work weeks at a 40 hour salary can kiss my overworked ass. I have an unreachable deadline and will be working around the clock til Sunday to meet it. Horseshit.I'm also in the software industry ("Senior Software Architect") and I do sympathize with you... Hang in there bro!

Well it is now 11:00 PM and I am still plugging away at work. It had been about 13 hours so far. Probably will be here for another 5 or so. Ugh.

Pug

Well I have been up for 24 hours trying to get the software ready for release at work. Too bad it's not gonna happen... I guess I will just have to deal with the reprocussions but ya know what, I don't care.... I'm not the one who took the requirements nor am I the one who set the deadlines... perhaps if project managers learned that when the job is beyond their skills to produce a closer estimate, they need to chat with the damn developers or this is what happens!!!! TOO BAD!!! Muhahahah... what am I supposed to do, work 48 straight hours? I already feel naucious, I will probably pass out! OK ok ok, enough crying outta me. I have to get back to it. Feel free to comment and tell me how foolish I am. :)

Have a good friday everyone!

Exhausted Pug.

I know what your going through.. I work at home but because of that I also work 72 hours a week.. 9 to 9 x 6 days... Sucks sometimes but I guess I'm lucky enough to say let the answering machine pickup when I've had enough! well for at least an hour :)
Hang in there! I went to ITT for Networking but I found this job before I landed a IT job and this one pays alot more..great job other then having to be by the phone 72 hours a week..and be a problem solver:)

Maybe things will lighting up alittle after this deadline passes?? and also maybe this will be a small learning lesson for the project managers..to maybe include the programmers in the setting of the deadlines.. If they were smart they would.. because that would make it more personal to the programmers and they would perform(think outside the box) better.. then being only the worker ants :p

Take care and get back on track with the workouts.. but even more take care of yourself..No one else will.

If I hadn't invested so much time and energy into my health the last month I would be binging on mcdonalds and subway cookies... but fuck if I let this crappy work schedule get me down.

You've got the mindset to take yourself straight to 5% body fat, if you wanted to sir. Incredible. Stick through this and think of it as a warmup for all those days you're going to dream about weeks like this because it takes you forever to get out of the office now that all the guys want you to help them get shredded, and you have to remind all the girls that you've got a woman and to practice "fair staring" which includes, no staring "below the belt." lol...keep up the workouts bro, and you'll find the stress from all of this melts away in no time!

-Shafe

Still plugging away at work. Low on energy and sleep and I am sure my metabolism is fucked. I hope I am not negeting 4 solid weeks of hard work in the areas of diet and cardio. I still feel good, just run down from all this work. Monday is the big release day... I can't wait to get back into my routine full speed, instead of half assed.

Sorry to everyone who reads this daily for inspiration. The plus side is that I am holding strong with the diet, etc. Work will lighten up by 100% this week... I can't wait.

Tired Tired Tired,

Pug

Bump. I hope you haven't gone off track, pug.

Pug

Check out my journal ,,,Maybe your senitive to carbs.. You might need to check into the CKD diet (low carb) Check out my stats so far.. and after starting low carb'ing..

Hey everyone!

First off, sorry for leaving everyone hanging as to what in the hell is going on with me these days! I have been 100% consumed by my job for the last 10 days; very little sleep and very long work days.

Anyway, THE PUG IS OK! HE DID NOT FALL OFF THE WAGON!!! :claplow:

I was not able, physically, to keep up with cardio; however, I was able to STICK TO MY DIET! Now I will admit that I did not always eat my calories everyday due to meetings and location, but I NEVER WENT OVER! Now, I know it is not good to go too far under, but I did the best I could given my situation.

I want to apologize to everyone who turned to my journal everyday and missed the updates, the emails, IMs, and PMs were much appreciated and made me ralize I am here for me just as much as you are here for me as well! So, I will be back to my daily updates starting NOW! :flex:

Ok, so you are probably wondering... what my weight loss has been, etc.. Well I am down to 258.6 pounds as of today but I will wait until Saturday to post the official weekly weight loss. All in all I presume I will be down about 12 pounds to close out my first month. Given all the craziness of the last 2 weeks I am EXTREMELY pleased!

Again, sorry to keep everyone wondering about me... I appreciate the understanding and next time I promise to keep you more informed! I hope you will all keep checking out my journal and commenting!

Take care til tomorrow!

PUGGGGGGGGGGG :tu:

Holy crap bro, 12 already? That's awesome progress! Way to go on sticking to your diet...I tend to buckle under those huge amounts of stress and go for some comfort food, but like I said, you've got what it takes. Just get on that cardio again, and you'll be right back on track with dropping fat like a madman.

-Shafe

Well I finally got back to the gym this morning for a nice 30 minute cardio workout. Funny how 2 weeks off can really throw your stamina off. That won't be happening again... EVER. I refuse from this day on to let work dictate my ability to workout and stay healthy.... no job is worth the negative impact it has had on my desire to get UNFAT.

Anyway, I did get back to the gym this morning and it felt great. It will feel even better as my body gets caught up on sleep. Again, I apologize for leaving so many people in the dark.. not only does the journal help me, it helps so many of you! That being said, back to my morning postings before 7 AM, promise :tu:

I am actually going to the gym to start my weight program sometime this week when I can sneak out of work and go over to Gold's for a few minutes to meet with a trainer. That should really help me jumpstart back into things. Part of me is so disappointed with slacking off over the last two weeks and part of me says, fuck it... you had to do what you had to do so shut up and get back to the grind. I guess I am going with the latter. :spaz:

I am going to wait until October 21st to take photos, weight, and measurements. I want to give myself a chance to catch up from where I left off since I was seing GREAT progress... I do not want to see the results of my 2 week hiadeous... although I did stick to the diet... the best I could.

Ok, enough pissing and moaning. I am going to get ready for work and make some meals! Tonight I will be grilling about 500 chicken breasts, some 98% lean burgers, some sweet potatoes and fresh veggies. That should keep me stocked with food for a week or so. Not to mention all the tuna, brown rice, veggies, oatmeal, pretzels, natty PB, apples, and protien powder :jumping:

Ok seriosuly, I am going now. Next time I start bitching and moaning about work someone kick me in the ass... in retrospect this has been the shittiest two weeks of my life, never again.

Have a great day!

PUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :tu:

Had a good 30 minute cardio workout this morning. I am definitely getting back into the groove again. One thing I really need to focus on in eating throughout the day... I am finding myself getting caught up in meetings and work and not getting my 6 meals in... not cool.

I did go to bed earlier and sacrificed the second half of the Monday night fgootball game.... but it didn't matter, the Redskins lost... YES!!!! I hate the Redskins and I live in the DC Metro area.. hehehe.:spaz:

Well off to eat some breakfast head into work. Have a great Tuesday everyone!!!! Keep up the great wortk!!!!

Pug

I am not sure what is wrong with me but I am sick as a dog. Yesterday at work I was feeling a little run down and when I woke up at 5AM I definitely know something is wrong... my sinuses are so plugged, my head feels like a lopsided watermelon. I am going to call the doctors office around 9 and see if I can go in... I think it is probably another sinus infection; great, moe antibiotics, ugh.

I am not feeling good about myself. I have put 2 pounds back on and am finding it tough to get motivated to go to the gym; work has really beaten the piss outta me. Maybe being sick is a chance for my body to inform me that I am being a burnout and need to relax a little and not work so much.... who knows.

I'll post again later.

Pug

I am back. Rested. Rejuvinated. And just in from my morning cardio. It felt fantastic. Having sluffed off a week 2 weeks ago and then being sick most of last week gave me lots of time to rest up. In my eagerness to jump full force ahead back in August, I think I may have set myself up for failure knowing fair well that work was going to pick up 10 fold and that around this time of year I always get wicked sinus infections, etc... all excuses. all behind me.

After sucking down horse pills all week to beat this sinus infection, last night I went to bed eager to get up, knowing I was back on track. My apologies for sluffing off everyone... I won't go making empty promises anymore by saying this is the last time, blah blah... just know that I am back on track and rearing to go.

My new daily schedule is going to be:

5:00 AM - Rise
5:15 AM - 6:00 AM - Morning Cardio
6:15 AM - 7:00 AM - Breakfast & Meal Making
Work.

simple yet I needed to write it down to remind myself that there isnt much going on in the AM and to make excuses is to show weakness.

Anyway, it feels good to be back on track. The focus for today is water consumption. I will make myself drink my alotted water. Period.

Have a great Monday!

Pug

Hey big cat! Just checkin in on ya bro...sounds like you've had it rough! I used to get nailed with sinus problems before I dropped the weight, so you may yet find another surprise when you hit your goal. Hope this week shapes up for you, and keep pluggin at it!

-Shafe

Just a quick update as I have to hustle up so I can take the fiance to school and get to work on time. I wound up staying up to watch the Chiefs and Ravens game last night.... bad idea! With every step on the treadmill, I would yawn! Plugged through the cardio and came home and fell back asleep for 30 minutes. No biggie... no more staying up so late!

Thinking about doing cardio twice a day. Once in the AM and once when I get home from work. The reason being is that when I come home from work I am very sluggish... I am thinking it might "Get me going" or "wake me up" or "energize me". Thoughts?

Ok, gotta run, fiance is getting antsy!!

PUG:tu:

Well I am finally back online! Just my luck to plug everything into the surge protector/UPS battery backup except the router!!! What an freaking oversight! Anyway, back online, still doing good... I will give a nice detailed update in the AM! I got my fiance to agree and work out with me in the AM... WOO HOO... now if I can convince her to shower together to help conserve water we will be all set :drool:

Pugster :tu:

I have been chatting with Ken (Ken in Canada) a lot via MSN messenger and I really feel bad for losing my drive to not be a fat failure. Not only did he enjoy my postings here in my journal but so did many of you... and I have not only let myself down, but I have been letting you guys down as well and I am sorry. I have pretty much let work consume me. At 24 years old and holding a senior developer’s position at a software company gets very stressful. Skill set wise I can do the job, the problem is that the environment and demands that come along with the position are not really on par with a 24 year olds lifestyle. I work with people who play golf after work and go to dinner parties and own real estate and make shit loads of money... I am a simple guy, who is watching his 20s pass him by. I am a perfectionist when it comes to my work and bust my ass to do things correctly and to the best of my ability; why that does not carry over into a healthy lifestyle I have no idea.

The other night, my fiancé and I pigged out. She is a double major in grad school working her tail off and well you know me, I do nothing but work.... so we both took comfort in just letting loose. The problem is that we never seem to get back on track. We go from binging on crap food to wanting to go back to eating clean, but once the train is full steam, it is tough to get back on track... which is where I am at now.

I saw such great success from August 21 - September 21. In fact I lost 11 pounds, saw my face thinning out, felt great working out every morning at 5:00 AM, felt great to have the discipline to shop once a week and prepare food and really evaluate what I put into my body. For the last two weeks I have failed at getting back to all that. I shudder to step on the scale and when I did, I saw that I put back on ~5 pounds. Very very depressing and does not add anything positive to my mental state and desire to get back on track. Why the fuck can't I stay on track. It's like I suffer from diet ADD. Seriously, it is very very frustrating. The worst part of it is that so many people would love to live .5 miles from the grocery store, 50 steps from a decent gym, yet I seem to always forget how easy and accessible these things are to me.

For the last two weeks or so I have done nothing but run my mouth about getting back on track and have not done so with any consistency. I promised to post detailed journal entries and really get back on track as I was just a short time ago, but have yet to do so. Next week, actually at close of business today, I am on vacation until I go back to work on Tuesday, October 19th. I am heading up to New York (Elmira area) to visit my family and friends. My fiancé is staying home due to school work and thesis writing (what fun... gonna miss you Ems). I have decided to not use my vacation as an excuse to get even farther off track but rather to get back on track. My mother, who is in her mid 50's is in 100x better shape than me; she swims daily, walks daily on the treadmill, teaches weight watchers classes, makes awesome healthy meals, and is a real inspiration to me in more ways than she will ever know. What I AM GOING TO DO is to get back on track immediately. I am taking my mountain bike with me on my trip and plan on the following exercise routine per day:

Morning walk on the treadmill: 3 miles (just as I had been doing).
Afternoon or early evening bike ride: 5-10 miles (my hometown is very friendly to bikers... not much traffic).
Eat 6 times a day VERY VERY clean; writing everything down and counting things to the "T".

What I am hoping will happen is that I use this next week to kind of start over and get back on track and carry that back to Maryland with me after my vacation is over and to stay on track. My wedding date is June 11, 2005 and was 11 months away not too long ago; now it is 8 months away and I have no flex time to meet my goals; I have to stick to this and make it a lifestyle commitment or I will regret it. I don't want to look like the Michelin man in a black tux come June, nor do I want to cruise the beech in Jamaica with a shirt on feeling all guilty about the way I look. I accept where I am at now because I put myself here. I do not accept myself come June 11 looking like I do now; I will reach my goals, or give everything I have trying to do so. 6-10 pounds per month of fat loss puts me at a total loss of 48-80 pounds of weight loss by June 11, 2005 which is right at my goal. With a LBM of 187 pounds, 200-210 would be a HUGE success.

One of the things that have really bothered me is that I keep saying I am going to get to the gym and start lifting. Bullshit. I know for a fact that I will not, at least not to Gold's gym. My membership is up and I wasted about $600.00 over the last year saying I was going to go, then going off and on, then not going, etc. I have enough machines and dumb bells in my apartment complex gym to put together an initial routine that will get me at least lifting a couple times a week to start. I know that too much too soon is a recipe for failure for me, so why do I continue to go ballz out, setting myself up for failure!? My fiancé’s sister and her boyfriend are going to be in town tonight on there way through to visiting a friend. He is a physical therapist and knows a lot about the body and working out. He is going to go to our gym with me and put together a good plan given the equipment available. I am very grateful for this as it is just the assistance I need to get the gym portion under way.

It is beginning to sound like all my ducks are getting lined up; I just have to keep with it. Easier said than done, but this divulgence of everything that has been going on with my life the last 2-3 weeks has really opened my eyes. I guess sometimes you need to fail to succeed... I hope this is my failure wakeup call.

I also want to apologize to my fiancé for smoking. I had not smoked in months, even before I started and found JSF but let myself cope with stress and work by lighting up. Bad idea. Going from great, intense cardio workouts every morning to smoking and lying about it to her really disgusts her and me both not to mention the abuse I subjected my healing lungs to; I can't think of anything worse than working out then smoking. She does not ask a lot of me. She reminds me to floss (every 2 seconds), to eat well, and to NOT SMOKE. Smoking to her is the worst possible bad habit/choice ever and for me to do it anyway is just selfish and totally a slap in the face. So Ems, if you ever read this, which I hope you do, I am sorry. I hope we can put this behind us and move in a positive direction. Actually, she knows I post stats and stuff but I don't think she knows I open my whole life to everyone...

So as I sit here at work awaiting my big presentation which is centered around the software I have been working night and day for 6 months, I must say that no matter how great the success of the software and the presentation, it was not worth the impact I allowed it to take on me and my health. I get so caught up in having a great job that pays great and affords me the opportunity to take a senior role I let my health and body absorb the brunt of it, no more.

I hope everyone continues to read my journal and uses it for inspiration in your own lifestyle journey. I am not going to try and log on everyday from NY but plan on a nice update when I get back to MD. I look forward to losing a couple pounds while on vacation and getting myself turned around. I want to say a special thanks to Studly Shafe who is still a huge inspiration as well as Ken in Canada who going through similar setbacks like me. Ken, chatting with you is really helpful and Shafe, letting me know failure is not the end of the world is also helpful. Hopefully the next time we chat I can tell you I am back on track and doing well.

If you got this far, I thank you for reading this and hope I did not put you to sleep. I know it definitely woke me up in more ways than one.

Enjoy the long weekend (in the US) and enjoy the normal weekend across the pond. I look forward to my vacation and coming back with a new energy to succeed.

Best to everyone,

Pug :tu:

Pug, don't you worry about that ~5 pounds. That goes away as fast as it came... Believe you me man, my diet went bollocks on a cruise for two days and it took about a week to get back to where I was before the cruise. But it is definitely doable.

Three rules to success in dieting (IMO): log your meals, log your meals and log your meals. Oh, and did I mention: log your meals... :D That's the one thing that has set my diet on track. Once you see what you eat, you automatically program your subconscious to the right direction. Continue that for a few months (with proper adjustements when needed) and you will be victorious!

Well it has been a nice and relaxing time off. Got to recoup from all those 80 hour work weeks. Unfortunately I put back on about 5 pounds of the 11 I lost.... which makes sense since I lost focus while on vacation but for my sanity's sake, I had no choice.

Anyway, I got back into the grind this morning. Woke up at 4:45 AM and headed to the gym and did my morning fast paced walk at 3.8 MPH on a 3.5 incline on the mill. I spent 15 minutes prior stretching out very good.

On a side note, while I was away from the forums and work, I made a couple purchases that have made a huge difference. First off, I bought a new bed for my fiance and me... a pillow-top queen. Compared to our old bed (a flexible hammock is what it felt like), this new bed makes for the best sleep I have had in years. My back feels good, and I wake up refreshed.

I restocked the good food supply and got rid of the bad shit... and having only been back on course for not even a day, what a difference... no indigestion, no sleepy spells, energy filled and feeling good.

Food for today:

6:00 AM - Whey shake (f/f yogurt, skim milk, frozens trawberries)
9:00 AM - Apple / Oatmeal
12:00 PM - Salad w/ chicken / almonds
3:00 PM - Tuna w/ reduced fat triskets (4) / brocolli
6:00 PM - Green beans / 98% lean burger /
9:00 PM - tablespoon natural PB
10:00 PM - Whey shake w/ skim milk only

I am a little worried that I may fall short of my 7 month goal: be down to between 205-215. I am at 264 now. 7 months is 28 weeks roughly and at 2 lbs a week barring no setbacks and plateuas that is 56 pounds... not much room for error. Man, I gotta stick with this... or ill be rolling down the isle on June 11th.

On my lunch hour I can't wait to check out some of the new people here and to check in on the regulars too.

Good to be back.

Pug

Had a good cardio workout this morning. I feel like I am getting back into it... takes a couple days of getting up at 4:45 AM but it will be second nature before I write my next journal entry :D

Anyway... eating good today and feeiling good too. Have to keep this short as I am in the middle of fixing a software bug and I already lost my train of thought about 500 times thinking about the election!

GO VOTE
GO VOTE
GO VOTE
GO VOTE

Pug :tu:

Hey Pug, just wondering what's been up the past couple of days. Looks like you took some time off and I was just wanting to make sure that everything was still on track for you. Keep us updated. Don't lose focus of why you started this whole thing in the first place. There's a lot of people out here rooting for you!

Hey everyone. Sorry for being on track, off track, on track, off track. I have been home sick the past couple days... the sudden change in weather here in the DC Metro area had given me one killer of a sinus infection, which is normal for me, but this one had my eyes swollen shut and almost unbearable pressure in the sinus cavities. Anyway, the nice big horse pills (Amoxicillin) has done me wonders and tomorrow morning I will be back to the gym and back on my clean eating. The past couple days has been lots of soup, water, crackers, popsicles (I know they have a shit load of sugar, but when you are sick, they are the only thing that tastes good), and fruit cups.

Tomorrow I am shooting for about 2500 calories and 30-60 minutes of cardio first thing in the AM. Then it is on the waxing the Mazda6 all afternoon to get it ready for the winter!

Thanks for stopping by everyone. Pug is feeling better and back on track.

:tu:

G'Morning everyone!

Got up this morning and did a nice 3 miles on the treadmill. Followed it up with a big protien shake and a whole wheat english muffin. Took all my vitamins and supplements and now I am at work feeling GREAT!

Tonight after dinner I am going to start incorporating a light post-dinner workout, to see if I can keep myself from crashing and sluffing off later in the day. I think the light walk will get the innerds moving and will hopefully help me keep my energy level a little more constant into the night.

Ok, so I am feeling good and have to get back to work. Keep up the good work everyone.. I will try to post as I did back in August when I began.

Take care!

PUG

Had a great cardio workout this morning... 30 minutes at 3.8 MPh at an incline of 4.0. Might not seem like a lot but since I fell of the wagon for almost a month, getting back into it slowly as to not overdo it. Anyway... my hammys are soreeeee but its a good sore...

I have eaten very well today and have lots of energy. I did forget to take my supplements this morning; I think I better keep backups at work as I do forget a couple times a month. No a huge deal, but I do notice I feel a little better when I take them.

Anyway, work has been busy as hell and I haven't had too much time to post during the day.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Pug :cool:

Had a good workout this morning. I spent all day yesterday grilling food and making my meal charts for the week. For me to stay on the wagon I need to keep organized, so Sundays are my preparation days: groceries, cook, pakc, plan, etc.

I also decided to toss in another light walk post-dinner in the evening. Back in August when I was doing so well I was drinking a ton of water... since then I have been very lax with the water and I think it is definitely hurting my progress.

Anyway, I have gotten the week off to a great start and look forward to finally staying on track. I will be posting much more in here as it helps me stay focused and on track.

Hope everyone else is doing awesome, keep up the good work.

Pug :tu:

Well my plan to post more in my journal is not panning out too well as I am leading another big project at work that is consuming my energy. The up side to the situation is that I am still eating very well and taking care to make sure what I eat is healthy and fits into my daily eating plan.... a definite bonus. I am still struggling with drinking water throughout the day, but I think I found out why; I hate cold water! If the water is room temp, I can down it like a beer in college :lol:

I am still going strong with my cardio workouts in the AM.. especially since I got a mini ipod... hehehe... 4 GB of music to jam to. I have 5 different play lists setup depending upon the type of mood I need while working out! Its working out good.... I am about to up my morning time workouts to 45 minutes from 30 minutes.

I am trying to plan my holiday days off coming up at work (turkey day and xmas) in terms of not getting off track... and I think I will do good! I am feeling almost as good as I did when I first started; definite motivation to keep up the hard work.

Well, I hope everyone is doing good.

Take Care,

Pug

Not sure what to say really. I am back up to 266 from 258 which was down from 269. I can't seem to get on track at all. I have no excuses either. My mind knows I have to; I have my wedding in 7 months and my goal to lose 50 pounds by then is quickly fizzling out. I really feel at a loss here and kind of hopeless. I conquered these feelings once before back in August and lost a whopping 11 pounds in 1 month... man it felt good. The thought of making tuna every day and getting up at 5:00 A.M. is just exhausting to me. Here I am headed to NY for Thanksgiving with my family.... 4 days of people shoving food in my face. Not sure how I will deal with that.

I have no idea why I am so down on myself. I have a great fiance, a great job, a great loving family, a roof over my head, a garage to park in, and friends to have fun with..... yet I always resort to this pitty party for pug. Why damnit.. why. I know I sound pathetic... I sound pathetic to me also.

Why was this so easy for me in August and now so hard. I just pissed away the best opportunity to lose 25 pounds. So here is sit at 266 feeling like shit, eating like shit, and just plain down in the dumps.

Someone, say something to me to get back on track, as pathetic as it sounds I am in a rut that I have not experienced before. :d_frown:

Pug.

Ok, I was going to just PM you, but I thought I'd write it to the board instead.

I think maybe you "bit off more then you could chew" at first (I know I did the same thing). You don't HAVE to wake up at 5 am, and only eat tuna, etc. SMALL changes.

for my money, I wouldn't worry too much about tomorrow - stress makes the body LOVE fat storage (from what I hear).
You made great progress before, but what kept me reading your journal was your amazing energy. You still have that in you, you just need to get your head back.

Beating yourself will NOT help, neither will feeling sorry for yourself. Just go to the gym tonight, get on the treadmill, and start moving. Then tomorrow (or friday...) do it again. At each meal, ask yourself what will help with your goals, and what will not (i.e. starving = bad, good choices = good)

You GOT this dude, one day at a time, no pity, no excuses. Just Do It!


I have no idea why I am so down on myself. I have a great fiance, a great job, a great loving family, a roof over my head, a garage to park in, and friends to have fun with..... yet I always resort to this pitty party for pug. Why damnit.. why. I know I sound pathetic... I sound pathetic to me also.

Why was this so easy for me in August and now so hard. I just pissed away the best opportunity to lose 25 pounds. So here is sit at 266 feeling like shit, eating like shit, and just plain down in the dumps.
Pug.

Pug,

I really feel for you, cause I was is in pretty much the same place you are right now. I wasnt as heavy(230 lbs), but was in pretty bad shape. I nearly passed out after chasing my kids around the back yard. That was the last straw, I decided to drop the weight and get in shape. I started running a half mile a day (6 minutes) and added a half mile every week or so. I started to get in better cardio shape, but I was still fat.

I am a programmer also so I know how sometimes work weeks can be upward of 80 hours, and that the workouts suffer, but if thats the norm you need to find a different job, It will kill you slowly.

Back to the part about still being fat. No matter what I ate I couldnt budge more that a few pounds. Until one day my wife brought home an atkins book. I know that wont be a popular subject on these forums but he I go. The impression I had of it was all meat and cheese, but I couldnt have been more wrong. I was a big guy with a big apetite an eating as much as I want was the right diet for me. I probably ate healthier on that diet than any other time. Although Im not a total carb natzi now I still somewhat limit the carbs. My typical meal was breakfast: ham and cheese omlete with low carb bread or lowcarb yougurt and fresh stawberrys. Lunch was a low carb wrap with horseradisch ham, cheese turkey etc. Dinner was steak,chicken, fish broccoli and salad etc. As you can see it wasnt all meat and cheese.

Well I didnt come here to speak the praises of the atkins diet, but what I did want to tell you is that between that and some cardio vascular work, I lost almost 40 lbs. Weight loss is a big motivator, something you seem to need right now. Once the weight started comming off and I was getting in better shape, I changed my workouts to HIIT witch was a big time saver (only about 25 minutes) instead of 60-70 minutes running.

After doing all this for about 6 months I was able to complete my first marathon, and have kept the weight off.

Cheer up. You only get to do this "life" thing once.

Mark :)

Back.

Yes, I am back. I was out hosting a pitty party for myself to which no-one would attend. Thanks. Seriosuly, thanks. I stopped posting for awhile because I knew I was getting to be "whiney" and complain about work and how busy my life was getting, etc. Taking a step back it was so very obvious that I would rather make excuses than make the changes necessary in my life to become a success and get back in shape.

Off and on I have been keeping in touch with "Ken In Canada" whom most of you may remember from these forums. Ken is a no B.S. kind of guy who just gives it to you straight, as do most of you who are reading this and took the time out of your day to send me an email or PM to ask me WTF happened: "where did you go pug!", "Pug, don't give up", "I fell off the wagon too... hang in there", and the list goes on. What I thought was a few fans of my enthusiastic journal was in fact much larger. It actually made me feel very bad to know that I disappointed not only myself but you too. Knowing so many people support you and read your daily progress is actually quite moving so lets get back to that.

Here it is December 03, 2004 and it is seriosuly time to commit or get the hell out of the way. I choose to commit. I heeded the advice of you who took the time to give it to me straight: I am no longer going to try and conquer everythign at once. Small changes that are carried out each and every day. I don't need to eat tuna and salad ALL the time nor do I need to work out at the gym 7 days a week, year round.... what I need to do is go to the gym 3-5 days a week for 30-60 minutes a day and plan my daily fodd consumption out. I thought I spent enough time planning the meals previously and I think I can work off those meals and shopping lists. The food wasn't what did me in previosuly, it was my damn job and my inability to manage that extra load on top of my main focus of the time which was JSF. Needless to say, JSF got beat out by me and my job and lack of focus. Anyway, I am not going to go into anymore detail than this: I know what I need to do. I know each and everyday I can contribute positively to a better lifestyle. I know I can do it.

June 11th is just 6 months away; that is the big wedding day and I am very excited to be 40-50 pounds lighter. I am going to make June 11th my new 6th month goal. That won't be a stopping point but 40-50 pounds of fat of me will make me feel VERY VERY good and extra motivated to succeed. Ok, so it might turn out to be 25 or 30 or maybe even 70... who knows. As long as I stuck to my plan and did something everyday to change my lifestyle then I will be happy with the 6 month result, only to continue to stick to my new lifestyle.

Ok, so back to my current status (going to weigh in real quick)....

Ok, 264.8 pounds at 29.9% BF according to my ever trusty Tanita scale. Again, I am sure the numbers are off slightly but I will be consistant and just use this scale. Ok.. so not a total loss. I originally started out at 269.2 at like 32% BF. Ok. I got my meals packed already for work today. I got my workout clothes next to me ready to put on and head over to the gym (500 ft away) :D .

Finally, my last goal is to POST HERE EVERY DAY and describe what I did for the day that is helping me to reach my goal (good idea suggested by Ken).

Off to the gym I go; it is a nice morning to go in deed. :tu:

Keep up the good work everyone! I spent most of last night cathcing up on all the people on here that I was following so closely for so long!

Outta my freaking way, here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pug

Taking a step back it was so very obvious that I would rather make excuses than make the changes necessary in my life to become a success and get back in shape.

Failure isn't an option at this point. So you've had a setback, BIG F'N DEAL. Life gets BIG sometimes and we can't juggle all the balls even when we're at our best.

You've had a SETBACK, and that's all part of PROGRESS. As long as you recover and march forward, it will only serve to feul your motivation and you'll have more knowledge and wisdom to take with you down the road.

I am still suffering a setback with my back problems, but instead of trying to work THROUGH them (which coincidentally HURT me more), I reprioritized everything and am healing my back first. I've got 6 more weeks to go and I (and my doctor) are confident I'll be %100 by the end of it. Then I scratch it off the list, and stick my training back at the top.

Don't multitask - reprioritize. Your body will thank you for it. Your positive attitude is going to get you farther than you think, man!

Finally, my last goal is to POST HERE EVERY DAY and describe what I did for the day that is helping me to reach my goal.

Make each new day a challenge, and resolve to come out at the end of that day a WINNER, having BEATEN and CONQUERED the day by eating all your meals (and enjoying them) and doing your workouts. The rest will take care of itself, but just take it ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Ken

Good Freaking Morning!!!! :cool:

This morning's cardio was awesome. I forgot how good it felt to push yourself that extra little bit to ensure you get the most out of your workout.

Yesterday was a good day for me. I really focused on what I was choosing to eat all day long. Had lots of chicken, long grain rice, tuna, triscuits, an orange, some tofu, beans, ham, and a piece of whole wheat organic bread. Today will be another great day of eating as well as I have the best grilled chicken in the fridge!

Last night I went to the mall to get my haircut and to pick up a birthday gift for my older sister (Dec 6) and my twin sister (Dec 10) and was totally shocked when I just walked by the Mrs Fields cookie stand. All I could think about while walking around was how good it will feel when I can get a haircut and not judge how fat my face looks in the mirror or how good it is going to be to not feel my gut hanging all over the place.... makes me wanna walk for days (my shins bring me into reality though)!

I was debating whether or not to ditch the yogurt, milk, and strawberries in my whey shakes.... however, after thinking about it, I think I will do whey and water in the evening but in the morning I am going to stick to my Whey (1 scoop), fat free yogury (1 cup), fat free milk (1 cup), and frozen strawberries (1 cup). The end result is a great tasting shake that I really enjoy in the morning... so since it did not adversely affect me last go around in terms of eating I will just be more conscious of my sugar intake throughout the rest of the day.

Well, I just got out of the shower after my workout and need to get some food and water in me! Have a great saturday everyone!!!

Pug. :)

Good Morning JSF Peoples!

First off, a complaint. You would think that the electrical outlets in an apartment would be logically grouped into circuits, and I am sure that everywhere else but where I live they probably are. However, it seems that the one outlet that all my computer and electronic stuff is (WAS) plugged into was for some strange reason on one of the kitchen circuits. So I get up and make some breakfast, plug in the blender while the microwave and dishwasher are all on and WHAMMMO, BzzzzZzztTTt, my UPS goes crazy and everything that is electronic is now running off a 15 minute battery backup. Needless to say I had to rerun all my cable and redo my nice neat computer area setup to make use of the next outlet that was on the living room circuit and not the kitchen... what a dumb setup!

Ok, so there is a reason for this long winded useless post. While laying on the floor and looking up for about 4 hours clipping and redoing cable ties, I did something to my neck. I feels like a muscle strain... and it stinks. Ok, so the good news. I get out my big pruple exercise ball and lay on back down and slowwwwwwwwwwly roll down it. All of a sudden I hear a knuckle pop sound. Seems as though my muscle pull was actually a "half cracked" neck. LOL. I know it is bad for you, but I always crack my neck and fingers and didn't even give it a second though as that being the problem. Needless to say, my neck feels good and I think I will try and break the habit of cracking everything in my body that pivots. :)

Ok, so that was worthless but I thought I would share it since I am in such a good mood this morning.

Today I am going to focus on MORE water and LESS diet coke. I seem to have gotten into the habit of drinking way too much diet coke throughout the day and I am going to start substituting water for some of it.

Sundays are my day off, so I enjoyed a little extra sleep this morning and will get over to the store later today to prep for another solid week. I am extra motivated this week as it is my twin sister and my birthday and she and my mother are coming down to visit me and my fiance for the weekend! My mom wants to take us all out to the cheesecake factory for dinner so that will be my cheat meal that I can look forward to for next saturday! I don't think I will go all out but I will probably have a salad, pork chops, mashed potatoes and a beer and will most likely not endulge in cheesecake since it makes me crave sweets very bad. Anyway, it is a good motivator to have a GREAT week in order to let loose for one meal and enjoy my family's company at our favorite restaurant.

So today I have a ton of school work done (I am almost done... 3 classes to go for my masters) as well as some wedding planning to work on with my fiance.... as well as watch football, cook, clean, do laundry, and make some meat on the grill to have for the week. So, I better run along and get to work! If I feel up for it after dinner, I might take a nice walk through the park or on the treadmill for shits and giggles. :tu:

Have a great day everyone!

Pug :tucool:

Well I had a pretty depressing moment while getting dressed to go to the store earlier. I rarely wear jeans as of late since after work and on the weekends I am usually in basketball type shorts or sweats bumming around or working out. Anyway, putting on a pair of 38x32 jeans made me realize just how big I have gotten. It was great motivation to wear to the store while shopping as it helped me question everything on my shopping list. Oh well, no more depression about it; need to stay on track and get rid of this extra 50 pounds. I have set another goal for myself; on February 28, 2005 is our anual employee holiday celebration at the country club (a little yuppyish for me but I go) and this year I am up for employee of the year. Last year, the images of me in a suit made me sick to my stomach. This year I want to be 20-25 pounds lighter and feel good about myself and have a great time. So I have just under 3 months to do it and damnit it's going to happen. That will also mark the halfway mark to my June 11th goal of 50 pounds. I can do it. I can do it. I will do it. No more being fat and worrying about having a good time at things such as this because I am overweight. Bye bye gut... at least half of it! I will do it.

Ok, so I grilled up 8 pork chops and 10 chicken breasts tonight (I absolutely love the meat hammer... pound the shit outta the chicken and it cookes in no time at all!). I need to run along and chop celery for my 3 day tuna stash and get some other items together for the week.

Tomorrow's focus is once again water consumption, no smoking, and a great morning workout. Til then, everyone have a great night and stick to your way of life... I am right behind ya.

Pug :tu:

Good morning JSFers!

I had a good cardio workout this morning. I walked on the treadmill for 3 miles at a 4.0 incline at 3.7 mph. It started off good and at about 20 minutes my left shin started aching... I paid close attention to my step and stride and it slowly worked itself out. The rest of the workout felt great! I always debate whether or not to stop at 30 minutes, but it is the last 15 minutes that really makes me feel like I am pushing it!... so 45 minutes is the norm for me now.

I have a very long day of work ahead of me and hope to really focus on my water intake and eating every 3 hours to ensure I stay on track. I have already informed my supervisor that I need to stick to my eating plan and I have her support 100%, meaning I can excuse myself from the meetings for a few minutes to grab something to eat... very cool to have that kind of support.

Well, off to shower, pack the meals, and head to work. Have a great day everyone and keep pushing!

Pug :tu:

Good Morning Everyone!

Well, I decided to heed the advice of many of you and not start out with cardio 6 days a week. For week 1 I am going every other day which turns out to be M,W,F,S which is a good start. I am really trying to focus on more sleep at night as well. I average 3.5-5 hours of sleep per night which has been the norm for so long I just wakeup automatically now... no matter what time I go to bed. I think I will stick with the every other day cardio for now, but I know I will get back to 6 days a week here before too long; it just helps me keep my schedule together in terms of work, etc.

I have some extra time this AM before heading off to work so I think I will make some extra tasty meals for today, along with some breakfast! Have a good tuesday everyone!

Pug :tu:

Hello everyone!
I just got in from my morning cardio workout. I really pushed the first mile and paid for it with my shins hurting a little more than usual... I will have to remember not to overdo it or there will be no cardio if I get some stress fractures in my shins! Anyway, I got 3 miles in 45 minutes walking briskly at about 3.8 mph at an incline of 4.0. It is really going to take a couple weeks to get my body used to the push but it does feel good to feel the burn while I work out. I felt like stopping at 30 minutes but I didn't; I knew I had another 15 minutes in me if I pushed myself...so I did!!! Mission accomplished.

Yesterday my eating was "ok". I got busy at work and did not space my meals out very good...and even had a granola bar on my way to a meeting. Not a huge deal, but a downhill spiral could result if I am not careful so today I need to focus on eating at the set times I planned out as well as eating the food I brought with me.

Other than that, things are going great. It feels good to know I am heading in the right direction. In due time I will be down 50 pounds at which point I can set some new lofty goals like getting ripped up and back into great shape.... one step at a time.

Have a great day! I am off to shower, make some meals, and head off to work!!! Remember, if the big pug can drag his ass to the gym and find ways to eat good, anyone can. I have seen failure..... behind me but never in front of me.

Pug :tu:

Ok, I needed to post again real quick...
I was pumped up this morning sitting in the car. I just felt lighter. I have only lost a 1.5 pounds since I got back on track but let me tell you, the feeling is good at -1.5 so imagine the feeling at -50! WOW!

Anyway, I also wanted to mention.... next time yur in the gym pick up the dumbbell that weighs the same as the amount of weight you want to lose... it is good motivation!.. 50 lbs is pretty freaking heavy!

Ok, I am at work now and have lots of code to write and cleanup! Have a GREAT day everyone!

Pug. :cool:

John's daily backups kept me from posting this morning... I try and beat them but since today was not a cardio date I woke up a tad later! John 1, Pug ~75.... the odds are still in my favor. hehehehe :D

Anyway, had a busy day so far... early morning meetings and running around here and there and then fedex showed up while i was walking out the door so I had to play with my new LCD monitor for a few before going into work after lunch... then I ran the fiance to school now I am at work... weeeeeeeeeeeeee crazy day so far!

I do have a crap load of energy though... i love it!
Well, sorry for the long post... no seriously... hehe. I will bug my journal later! Have a great day everyone!

Pugeroni. :tu:

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

I can't believe I am a 1/4 century old... YIKES! It is also 6 months away from the big wedding!

I just got in from my morning cardio workout. I did 30 minutes at a faster, more intense pace, instead of 45 minutes of a lesser intense pace since I have to be at work early this morning. Anyway, it felt good this morning to push myself harder.

This weekend should be great; my twin sister and mom are coming down to visit my fiance and me! We will probably head down to DC and check out the Spy Museum and new WWII memorial. I have been good all week in order to enjoy a nice dinner at the cheesecake factory with the 3 woman in my life: mom, twin sister, and fiance! We all lovvvvvvvvve cheesecake!

Ok off to shower and work I go. Have an awesome awesome day and keep up the GREAT work!

Pug :tu:

Hello everyone!

Well, having enjoyed a nice long birthday weekend visit from my mother and twin sister I am eager to keep on going with my cardio and good eating. They noticed the 8 lb loss in my face and it felt good to hear them say so. We spent the day Saturday walking all over Washington, D.C. which is a stones throw from my apartment in Bethesda, MD. We must have walked 15 miles throughout the day... my legs were SOOOO sore Saturday night as were my sister's. Needless to say I rested today instead of going to the gym which was much needed. My cheat meal this week was a nice dinner at the Cheesecake Factory in the White Flint mall here in Rockville, MD on Friday night. I had a parmasian crusted chicken breast with potatoes and green beens along with some spinach cheese dip and some chips topped all off with a piece of key lime cheesecake. It sounds like a lot and believe me it was!... but I did something new... I ONLY ATE HALF OF IT ALL! EVEN THE CHEESECAKE! I got the other half to go before it even hit the table. I then rationed out the rest throughout the day on Saturday and ate great aside from the leftovers. Today, I ate pretty good minus the lack of water.... I gotta figure out why I can not drink water! LOL My brain tells me I can but i bring the glass to my mouth and its refuses to take it... Grrr. Oh well, I picked up a nice water bottle for my desk at work so hopefully I can drink down three of the bottles while at work and 2 more throughout the day to get myself back into the water thing.

Tomorrow morning I will be in the gym for my morning cardio... gonna do 45 minutes tomorrow and it should be GREAT! I am also going to start some morning lifting on my non cardio days.... gonna need some help getting some exercises down but I know i can do it.

Ok, well I should run off to bed now before I get stuck typing here all night.... not that I don't like you all, but I need my energy to keep on track!

Hope you had good weekend and lets all get ready for a bustin' ass week of good eats, good lifts, and good atitudes!

Take care!

Pug :tu:

Good Morning Everyone.

I just got in from a nice 30 minute cardio workout. I planned on doing 45 minutes, but I pushed very hard for 30 and it felt great! I am not sure if 45 minutes is the way to go or 30. I kind of feel like a copout by saying 30 pushed it and 45 doesn't... but it does. I dunno.. Anyway, it was great nonetheless.

I slacked off last night and did not make any meals for today or plan them out so I have to do that in addition to showering and getting to work so I need to keep this brief and play catchup! :spaz:

I hope everyone has a good day and starts off their week on the right foot. 6 months to go for me and I need to stay focused... so any inspirational words of wisdom are appreciated.

Take care!

Pug :tu:

Hey hey!

I ran way short on time yesterday and did not have a moment to post... but today is more important because it was a cardio morning! I am roaring full of energy and have finally gotten into the habit of avoiding naps during the day and going to bed earlier.... it feels good to actually be very tired around 9/10 PM.

This morning I pushed myself even harder... 6.0 incline at 3.8 mph for about 35 minutes.... It felt very good. I definitely think that going to the gym everyother day as apposed to 5/6 days a week really keeps me on better track.

Anyway, I hate to keep this short, but I have to get ready for work as I have an early morning meeting and I still need to find my hat and gloves... its FREAKING COLD OUT! Brrrrrrr :spaz:

Have a good day everyone!

Pug :tu:

I am still here! I have been extremely busy at work, school, and in my personal life that I haven't been able to keep up to speed on my journal the last few days. Some major accomplishments and news to tell (in case anyone cares):

1.) Aced my two master courses at school... holding onto my 4.0 with 2 classes remaining!

2.) Was nominated for employee of the year at work (5K boonus to winner)!

3.) My fiance and I decided to call off our traditional style wedding and elope! WHAT A SENSE OF RELIEF! For the last 5 months we have done nothing but talk about how other people are going to like this and that and plan this and pay that when all the two of us really wanted to do was to just be together... so off to St Lucia for 10 days to get married and enjoy our special day! WE ARE PUMPED.

4.) I quit smoking!... its only been a couple days, but thats all it takes to get out of your system.

5.) Lost 1 pound.

I anticipate things getting MUCH MUCH better because once the smoking ceased, the classes were over, and the wedding plans were finalized I felt like 50 pounds of stress were taken off of me..... it was actually a quick look into the future 5 months from now when I am 50 pounds lighter.. I can't wait. Anyway, I am in a great mood... getting 2 major events in your life organized and centered around you yourself and not your family and friends is great.... :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

Ok, I have a ton of work to do here at work today, so I should get going! Everyone have a GREAT DAY!

Pug :tu:

Hey everyone... Sorry I have been MIA for a couple weeks. I didn't fall off the wagon but I did manage to fall down a flight of stairs and land my neck and shoulders on the edge of some steps..... dislocating my shoulder and severely bruising my cervical verts in my neck/upper back. Needless to say I am sore as can be and not even pain meds are helping alleviate the pain while sitting or laying down. It has been rough as hell. How did I do this.... carrying xmas decoartions down a flight of carpeted steps wearing socks! My feet came out from under me. ugh. Anyway, I am still eating good and am down 3 pounds.. almost 4 which is still on track but my cardio is a no-go for a couple weeks at least. Anyway, I didn't mean to leave you hanging but I haven't had the energy to log on until this morning. I will keep you posted but my posts will be sporadic for the next week or so as I heal.

Hope everyone had a happy holiday.

Pug.

*POKE* *POKE* *PROD* *PROD*

Pug - you there, man?

We notice when you're gone, you know. :cool:

You cannot escape this place. Nobody escapes JSF. You can run, but you can't hide.

Drop a rock in the water already, will ya?

Ken

*POKE* *POKE* *PROD* *PROD*

Pug - you there, man?

We notice when you're gone, you know. :cool:

You cannot escape this place. Nobody escapes JSF. You can run, but you can't hide.

Drop a rock in the water already, will ya?

Ken

Hey Ken. I am here. It has been a hellacious couple of months for me health wise. I know you got most of the story on MSN Messenger, but it got even worse. My back and shoulder healed nicely, no perm damage... it actually feels good from the PT I got on it. Anyway, that pain was nothing compared to the testicular torsion I had. Brought me to my knees in eye watering pain. Having gone to the hospital for ER attention, I am fine with that also... even got back to cardio on Monday.

For some reason I can not keep focused, I can not eat good consistently... my drive for cardio is still there though. I put myself into crappy situations and now I am just overly stressed about looking like a flubby piece of shit in St Lucia when I get married. I am not looking for a pitty party, just osme encouragement. June 13th will be here VERY SOON and I am back to where I started... 269 lbs and 31% b/f... what a fucking mess. Anyway, I am here and will try and post daily, that was what really helped me way back when I started... starting over might be good.

Sorry to be so down, but I am just feeling a little down... being overweight is really getting to me and I feel stuck.

Pug

I took my time coming home tonight.... walked around a little... listened to my ipod as I thought about what I need to do to be successful with my eating and working out. I thought about why I failed and wanted to just write those down so if I ever should feel myself slipping, I can make myself mindful of what might be leading me astray:

1.) Work. I let my job consume me. I strive to master all there is to know about software development; I work long hours, put in extra time, work through lunch, allow myself to get stressed out about everything work related: deadlines, new projects, trainings, etc.

2.) My fiancé. I hate to say it but my life has somehow gotten to a point where my fiancé and I argue about the stupidest things. From stopping too fast while driving the car to shopping for groceries, to making more time for "us". Needless to say, it is not the real me.... I love her more than anything but the culmination of stress, work, working, feeling down, etc just makes you quick to speak sometimes.

3.) Money. Right now I support both my fiancé and myself. She is finishing school and I am working full time and taking a graduate class (2 remaining towards my masters degree program). We are saving for a wedding, a down payment on a house, working off a budget which we rarely stick to, saving for a dog, she needs to start working up a wardrobe for work (she will be an English teacher.. student teaching now), etc, etc. It is stressful trying to juggle all of this and make sure everyone stays sane and happy.

4.) My Appearance. It sounds counter productive but I find myself binge eating and feeling the worst about myself when I picture myself in social situations where people will see me and judge me on appearance. Let's be realistic, people judge others on appearance... when is the last time you heard someone say, "that fat guy is hot". Exactly! I try and picture myself without all the stretch marks, without the 42" pants, without the puffy/bloated face resting on my shirt collar, the 13" ring finger, the 18" neck, 53" chest, the crooked teeth, shitty smile, etc... and it makes me really sad, almost hopeless. Then there are times where I snap out of it and stop feeling sorry for myself and try and act on it to change it. Its very confusing.

5.) My temper. My attitude and temper have definitely changed moving from small town NY to big city DC. I am used to polite, friendly people who hold doors and say hello and please and thank you and ask how the day is. Down here in DC you have to look hard to find that and it really pisses me off to know that people are so consumed in themselves and their "things" that they can't show some decency and kindness towards others. It makes me sad to see the look on someone's face when I hold the door for them or the elevator.. Like no one has done that for them in 100 years. The driving and lack of safety and respect pisses me off. The middle eastern cashiers at the store who can't speak English as well as me... me who has lived in the US his entire life and who has English as his first language... how fucking rude of me. There was a time when I was the nice guy... good thoughts, good actions, friendly, polite, and a hard worker.

Geeesh, I could sell the above to a text book producer for the next psychology book. In all seriousness though, thinking back on it, my life has really done a 180 and I am saddened by what I am becoming. My entire demeanor changed, not just my appearance. But was one the product of the other? Who knows. I do know they are directly related... when you look good, you feel better, when you feel better you want to do what is necessary to maintain those feelings. So what does all this mean? Why after months and months of making excuses and feeling sorry for myself am I back here? One reason... all the people reading this, including myself. It's tough to lose weight and get on track for life... it really is. Having people around you who don't give up on you when you give up on yourself is so very important. I gave up on myself.... until today. I thought about coming here everyday and posting this stuff and asking for advice, etc but I seriously couldn't type the address. I am glad I did. Even if no one responds to this that is ok... I know people are reading it, just like they did when I came here with a boatload of enthusiasm. I am back. I am eager to alter my daily routine and life to attain my end goal which is a happy, healthy life.

I am leaving to get married in 110 days. That is a little over 15 weeks.

The fucking around STOPS now.
The excuses STOP now.
The lack of JSF journal posting STOPS now.
The trips to the vending machine STOP now.
The endless cups of coffee with crème and sugar STOP now.
The eating out at work STOPS now.
The extra work all the time, STOPS now.
The petty arguing and bickering with my fiancé STOPS now.
The negative thoughts towards people STOPS now.
The eating for comfort STOPS now.
The worrying about money STOPS now.
The worrying about being uber geek at work, STOPS now.
Feeling sorry for myself when I look in the mirror, STOPS now.
Worrying about what other people think about me, STOPS now.
Caring what other people think about me, STOPS now.
Comparing myself to others, STOPS now.

So what starts now? Me. The me who you got a glimpse at months ago. The nice guy I used to be. The happy go lucky guy that everyone enjoyed being around. Ok, so I'm fat. That is not changing over night... at least not drastically.... so why expect it to?

Working out, STARTS now.
Eating good, STARTS now.
Working normal hours, STARTS now.
Being more patient, STARTS now.
Weighing myself once a week, STARTS now.
Posting in my journal daily, STARTS now.
Getting rid of old clothes as they becomes too big, STARTS now.
Remembering my vitamins and supplements daily, STARTS now.
Getting more sleep, STARTS now.
Being focused at work, STARTS now.
Accepting me, STARTS now.
Changing me for the better, STARTS now.
Thanks to KenInCanada and all the JSFers, STARTS now (THANKS!)
Being happy with whatever weight I drop to by June 13th, as long as I did my best, STARTS now.
Not trying to motivate myself with Nike shoes or heart monitors or new workout clothes... just get to the god damn gym, STARTS now.

My pledge to me (you are welcome to follow along): Strive for a 2lb./week weight loss resulting in a total of 30 pounds of weight loss by June 13th. That will put me at 239 pounds; 24 pounds over my ultimate goal.... but that's ok. One step at a time.

Thanks for reading. I am off to read a little and get ready for my morning workout. It is going to be a great fucking day, I can feel it. Take care.

Pug :tu:

Good morning everyone!

Snowy here in the DC metro area... well not yet, but it's predicted! This means that, yes, all public school are closed. Too funny! :rolleyes: These people need to live in upstate New York for 21 years to see how real snow accumulates!

I just got in from my morning cardio and let me tell you, it was a great feeling. I went with the intention of doing 20-30 minutes on the eliptical, but when it hit 20 minutes I was just wamring up! When it hit 30 minutes I started picturing myself shedding weight and getting fit... which left me eager to see what was at 45 minutes... so I pushed on! It felt really good. The difference between 30 minutes and 45 minutes is really minimal when you think about all the minutes wasted in a day. I am going to try and push myself for 45 minutes everytime I go to the gym. I know my body can keep up; I used to run 4:50 miles.... 10 years ago :)

Well, I may be working from home today, which would be AWESOME! I will be paying VERY close attention to what I eat from here_on_out and look forward to my first two meals:

6:30 AM:
2 scoops Whey, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup ice.

9:30 AM:
2 eggs scrambled. 2 fake sausage patties (Boca).

12:30 AM:
Low sugar oatmeal, apple, natty PB

3:30 PM:
salad, gree veggies, grilled chicken, FF dressing

6:30 PM:
salad, tuna w/ mustard, pepper, celery

9:30 PM:
2 scoops Whey, 1 cup ice, 1 cup skim milk (no fruit at night!)

I know plain rolled oats are the best but you have to make compromises sometimes. I know if I force myself to eat rolled oats im going to get sick of them and move to something else like cereal! So, the tradeoff for me is low sugar quaker oatmeal. I am going to try and consume most of my carbs in the morning hours. One thing about my body is that it does not handle carbs well later in the day... I get very tired and lethargic!

I am going to head over to the store in a few minutes before I get to work here and pick up a few items to help me better balance my meals.

I hope everyone has a great day! If you have any comments about my meals, please post them... good or bad... I like the feedback.

Thanks!

Pugster :cool:

Welcome back for good! Congrats on making the recommitment. Just keep focusing on little steps, celebrate small accomplishments, and try to make tomorrow a little better than today and you'll be ok. You don't have to do it all at once. That can be overwhelming and frustrating and could lead to quick failure.

YOU WILL DO IT!!! :gl:

pug - diet looks good man! (assuming its enough calories?) doesnt look like you have any highGI stuff in there so just do dat!! :tucool:

maybe add some more fats - like nuts. but just dont get addicted to cashews like i did recently. i end up eating a container a day (1600 calories worth) just cuz i cant stop eating them! it has proven to me that diet is 70-90% importance of getting ripped, ESPECIALLY when you get down to 12, 13% bf.

you should know this from doing it before - but just do this religiously for 1 week and it will be routine. dont let me down man! :eek:

Good morning again... day 2 started off perfect!

I got my 45 minutes of cardio in (775 calories burned) on the eliptical.... that machine just rocks! I don't know what it is about that machine, but it feels great and the motion is not strenuous on any of my joints, especially my knees. One day I will get back to running, and maybe even look like I did about 10 years ago when I could run a mile in 4:50. Those were the days...

Anyway, I am running slightly late today and should get a move on. I am sure today's commute will go great, not; it snowed here and everyone knows that people in DC can't drive to begin with, let alone in the snow! I am originally from upstate NY so I don't count as a native Washingtonian!

Hope everyone has a good day! If you have any good meal ideas, please let me know... it gets hard to not get bored eating the same shit day in and day out. Off I go... enjoy your Friday!

Pug :cool:

One day I will get back to running, and maybe even look like I did about 10 years ago when I could run a mile in 4:50. Those were the days...
sub 5 minute mile? damn... not bad. i dont think i could ever do that no matter what shape i'm in. in baseball i was always really slow. its like i just dont know HOW to run fast.

have a good one pug!

sub 5 minute mile? damn... not bad. i dont think i could ever do that no matter what shape i'm in. in baseball i was always really slow. its like i just dont know HOW to run fast.

have a good one pug!

Yeah, I know it's hard to believe but it happened, many times. I was 178 pounds in 7th/8th grade and was heavy into track, basketball, and football. I was not fat, just big... at least then anyways. People were always amazed at the positions I played, despite my size:

Track: 1600 meters (mile)
Basketball: forward except I played guard more!
Football: Running back (200+ lbs.)

When I stopped playing basketball and stopped running track I got too focused on working (in a restaurant like you!) and eating. I was getting bigger and bigger. Then I went to college... got bigger and bigger... the last 10 years are pathetic for me. I could have been something. I enjoyed making money working than I did taking care of myself, now I pay the price struggling to lose it all.

Didn't mean to go down memory lane, but I wasn't always obese and non active, and I definitely wont be for too much longer! Damn, I miss high school :-)

Pug

Good morning JSFers!

Well round 2, day 3 is here. It started off..... GREAT! I got a little needed sleep this morning and then rolled right out of bed and into my shorts and sneakers and walked over to the gym. I did another 45 minutes on the eliptical... 775 calories burned and 5 miles traveled. Sounds good to me! I felt great and to be honest I could have gone for like 2 hours but don't want to overdo it!

Anyway, my fiance commented that my face looks less "puffy" and little things are noticable again: watch spind on my wrist, glassses are less snug, shirts are not strangling me, etc. Those little things are just the beginning. I await the day when my pants just dont fit (too big) and my shirts look like boat sails! Soon enough... gotta keep working hard.

I have my company party tonight. There will be a LOT of food and drink. It will be easier for me to keep on track since I am so focused and full of energy. My fiance and I are going to eat before going and since it is buffet style at a ritzy ditzy country club, no one will be paying attention to what we are eating or in what quantity... as if we care anyway... gosh we hate that type of crowd.. ugh. :eat:

Well I am off to whip up my morning shake and get picked up around the house. Lots to do before the party. I hope everyone has a good day!

Take care,

Pug :tu:

Well I drank WAY TOO MUCH last night. The good news is, I stayed within my calories... the bad news, well the macro breakdown was not even close. Needless to say I woke up with a decent hangover (well deserved) so I did not eat early this morning. I feel fine now and will be going to the gym here in an hour or so all is well in pugville.

I will post back later.

Pug

Well I got off to a slow start in terms of making it online to say good morning and tell you about my cardio workout due to the chaos around this city... you know DC.. where 2" of snow causes mass hysteria! LOL

Anyway, cardio was awesome! 775 calories burned in 45 minutes on the eliptical machine!

I am really going to focus extra hard on eating and drinking water today. All the beer at the company party on Saturday set me back... the 1.4 pounds I lost in 3 days was erased... no more cheating, at all! I am serious.. I am 100% committed to getting in shape (and learning to spell :nod: ).

At anyrate, I have a shitload of work to do this morning! Take care everyone and keep up the good work!

Pugster.

Good morning JSFers!

To be honest this morning's workout was tough. At about the 20 minute marker I felt like getting off the eliptical and walking home and crawling back into bed... but I didn't. I pushed on for 45 minutes, burning 775 calories and going 5 miles!!!! I am very proud for not giving in.

I just got done with my morning whey shake, which was quite tasty I must say and now it is time to pack some meals, get dressed, and get to work!

Hope everyone has a great day!

Pug

Well today marks the end of 1 week. I want to first give a quick synopsis of my successes and failures for week 1.

Successes:

Went to the gym every morning for 45 minutes of cardio burning ~775 calories per workout.

Failures:

Low water consumption. This is a definite area I must improve in... it is critical for weight loss.

Ate some non clean foods. I MUST EAT CLEAN to be successful. I did not binge but I did eat a Snickers and a piece of pizza (on different days). This was a direct result of letting my daily stress dictate my eating. I am stronger than that and will control those impulses.

Lack of sleep. I am still not sleeping enough. I am actually not sure why that is because I am tired in the evening. Could be anxiety... not sure. I will definitely investigate further.

So week 1 was "ok". I am disappojnted I only lost 1.2 pounds but I know what I have to do to make that number go up. Better planning of meals and keeping my water bottle filled should correct 90% of my problems.

Ok, so onto today. I went to the gym at 4:55 this morning and did a heart pumping 45 minutes of cardio, burning 785 calories and going 5+ miles on the eliptical.... damn it felt good.

I just drank my morning shake and will head off to work here in 10 or 15 minutes. Here is to an improved week 2 which started this morning!

Best of luck to everyone.

Pug :tu:

the water thing is something i often forget about too - it might be hurting my progress as well!

keep up the good work - at least you're doing your cardio religiously!

Well I must say that this morning I was very close to not going to the gym for my morning cardio. I was up late reading online and got to bed WAYYY TOOO LATE! Anyway, I did go... and once I was plugging in my head phones I felt proud to have not given in... so I'm a little extra tired today.... I will get to bed earlier than usual to compensate.

I had a pretty good workout, 5 miles on the eliptical machine burning 785 calories. It was good... plus for some reason someone left the tv on showtime or some channel that is not appropriate for an apartment complex gym and Girls Gone Wild was on... talk about motivation to work out! HAHAHA!

Had my shake... went to the dentist... now I am at work with a numb face wishing I could drink my water without drooling on myself!

Have a good day everyone.

Pug

Good morning. :-)

Well I totally bombed last night / today. I ate 2 pizzas, 3 snickers bars, a 6 pack of beer, 2 dozen chicken wings, a jar of mayonnaise, and styled my hair with cooking spray.... just kidding. :)

Actually, today is day 9 and I am prooud to say that I went to the gym again this morning and feel great. Another 45 minutes on the elliptical machine and about 775 calories burned. I went home had some water and a shake.

I am doing better on the water, but need to focus on my food choices. I am staying within my calories but the food selection is not the best. I will take some time this weekend to really plan a LOT of meals and their caloric/nutrient breakdown.

I gotta run off to a meeting now, but I will be posting again this weekend.. maybe even some recipes!!!

Keep up the good work and take care everyone!

Pug :tu:

I just noticed that way back when I first started JSF, I used to have all kinds of fans reading and replying in my journal, emailing and PMing me... it was very motivational. Now, it seems that the Pug is no longer the place to go for inspirational reading in the mornings. Where did you go people?!

Maybe you are pissed because I let you down too many times?
Maybe you are gone from JSF... fell off your own wagon and can't get back on?
Maybe the pug isn't posting anythin inspiring or reply worthy?

Oh well... Snap out of it people. Losing weight and changing your life is a HUGE FUCKING EVENT. Many of us have struggled with weight our whole lives and really want to change. Be supportive and encouraging. There are so many AWESOME, witty, and helpful people on here.. be sure to keep in touch with them, they need the feedback too, just like you and I.

I am not sure why I am in such a great mood, but I wanted to log on and just wish everyone luck in their journey... It's tough, but JSF forums are the place to stay focused! We will all slip now and again, just don't fall.

Ok, back to work I go. :cool:

Pugster

There are so many AWESOME, witty, and helpful people on here.. be sure to keep in touch with them, they need the feedback too, just like you and I.

i wish i was witty...

i read your updates everyday! just didnt want to clog your journal with non-sense like i clog mine :)

keep up the good work, and if you want to look at a diet format, mine is ok to look at.
http://people.msoe.edu/~picciond/diet.htm

i highly recommend the lowcarbness of it - really seems to be working faster than 30/30/40

I just noticed that way back when I first started JSF, I used to have all kinds of fans reading and replying in my journal, emailing and PMing me... it was very motivational. Now, it seems that the Pug is no longer the place to go for inspirational reading in the mornings. Where did you go people?!

Maybe you are pissed because I let you down too many times?
Maybe you are gone from JSF... fell off your own wagon and can't get back on?
Maybe the pug isn't posting anythin inspiring or reply worthy?

Oh well... Snap out of it people. Losing weight and changing your life is a HUGE FUCKING EVENT. Many of us have struggled with weight our whole lives and really want to change. Be supportive and encouraging. There are so many AWESOME, witty, and helpful people on here.. be sure to keep in touch with them, they need the feedback too, just like you and I.

I am not sure why I am in such a great mood, but I wanted to log on and just wish everyone luck in their journey... It's tough, but JSF forums are the place to stay focused! We will all slip now and again, just don't fall.

Ok, back to work I go. :cool:

Pugster


Im sure you have alot of people like me that read for inspiration, but dont post alot. You may have lost a few when you werent on at all in january.

I think that its great your doing so well on the cardio, but 9 straight days is too much. You asking for burnout. You need at least one day a week off for your muscles to repair.

glad to see you back.

Mark

I think that its great your doing so well on the cardio, but 9 straight days is too much. You asking for burnout. You need at least one day a week off for your muscles to repair.
I'd like to formally/respectfully disagree and say that cardio can be done 7 days per week. Sure, cardio uses muscles, but it doesnt use them until failure or near failure like lifting does. (if you were talking about cardio and not lifting. lifting you should have rest days inbetween, but you can still do cardio on the rest day.)

If you do know of a study done, or some scientific point of view - please reply. i'm doing cardio 7days/week currently, and if this is hurting my progress i'd like to know :)

(sorry to hijack the thread Pug :cool: )

I still read your journal :) It's just that some of us are lurkers heh

Good job on round 2!

Nando

I'd like to formally/respectfully disagree and say that cardio can be done 7 days per week. Sure, cardio uses muscles, but it doesnt use them until failure or near failure like lifting does. (if you were talking about cardio and not lifting. lifting you should have rest days inbetween, but you can still do cardio on the rest day.)

If you do know of a study done, or some scientific point of view - please reply. i'm doing cardio 7days/week currently, and if this is hurting my progress i'd like to know :)

(sorry to hijack the thread Pug :cool: )


I guess I shouldnt have made such a broad statement. It all depends on the intesity and the length of the cardio. I am going from personal experience of training for marathons. If you are doing the cardio at a pace or length that causes muscle breakdown you should take a day off every once in a while.

From reading his post I dont think he has been doing cardio the last month or so, and when he first started JSF he did like 20 striaght days and ended up getting sick.

I was just trying to tell him to ease back into it. Pug has a tendency to do this 150% or 0%.

Mark

Pug has a tendency to do this 150% or 0%.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Day 10 was my off day. It felt good to sleep in, lounge around, go shopping, and just relax.

Day 11, today, I got a little more rest and feel great. I am gonna hit the gym up a little later than usual since it is always packed on Sunday morning.

For now I am going to head over to the store and pick up some good food to have on hand for the week. Hope everyone had a restful and productive week/end. Take care!

Pug :tu:

Net Weighin: Wednesday... I can't wait.

Go Pug Go :)

Go Pug Go :)

I'm going man, i'm going! I just made some KICKASS oatmeal/banana pancakes!

2 eggs
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup skim milk
1.5 cups banana
dash of cinnamon
2 packets splenda
2 scoops whey protien

Tasted just like a banana muffin.. awesome!

Well I had typed out a nice long reply for this morning but when I clicked submit, it got eaten by the daily backup message and when I clicked back, the form data was gone.... grrrrrrrrr!

Anyway... I slept like shit and was exhausted this morning, but I managed to roll outta bed anyway and go to the gym for a nice, wake_me_up cardio workout: 45 minutes on the eliptical, 775 calories burned, 5.0 miles traveled.

I have to cut this short this morning as I am about to fall asleep on my keyboard! :)

Take care everyone and have a good Monday.. if there is such a thing!

Pug :tu:

how has your progress been going? 2lbs per week? are you calorie counting?

just curious, keep up the good work and try to get over your case of the moondays

Progress is going very well.. better than expected actually. 2 lbs/ per week is tough... a lot of work and planning required but I am making it happen.

I broke my #1 rule about weighing myself more than once a week... i felt my clothes fitting much better and had to sneak a peek... I almost busted a tear when i saw the progress... I will wait until wednesday to post the number :tu:

I think NOT looking at the scale but once a week helps a lot with cravings. Basically, because you got no idea whats going on except for the visual estimates. If you feel light, you dont want to dissapoint yourself by eating and if you feel heavy you want to see good results. Not sure if it makes sense but it helps me a great deal to only watch the scale once a week.

Once you step on that scale, its better to see dramatic results than up and down numbers due to water retension.

As far as the Mondays, whats the deal, don't like your job ?

Nando
07/01/04 212
03/07/05 197

Hi Nando..

I love my job.. I just didn't get a good nights sleep which makes for a rough monday. I plan on going to bed around 8 tonight :-)

Pug

Hi Nando..
I love my job.. I just didn't get a good nights sleep which makes for a rough monday. I plan on going to bed around 8 tonight :-)
Pug

Ok man, I want to see some results on Wednesday! I lost 2 pounds myself in 6 days by JUST eating clean. Ive had a cold for a while that is preventing me from lifting so watching what I eat carefully.

Have a good Monday :D

Nando

Bedtime approaches. The rested pug shall arise in the AM more fired up than ever!!! Wow, that was stupid. Gnite.

:tu:

Pug

Well a good nights sleep goes a long way in deed. I managed to get myself into bed around 9:30 last night which is a far cry from the 11:00 pm - 1:00 am I am used to. My body thanked me for that extra couple of hours and I am going to try and get more sleep ALL the time, not just when I am on the brink of tipping over!

I woke up this morning at 4:30 and felt pumped up... full of energy... not gorggy and dragging ass but rather on the hunt for my sneakers! Then I realized the gym doesn't open up until 5:00 am, crazy apartment complex policies!

I did a solid 45 minutes of cardio on the elliptical machine burning around 780 calories and traveling about 5.0 miles. It felt really good.

Anyway, I am off to shower, eat, and get ready for work! Take care everyone and have a great Tuesday!

Pug :tu:

Well I was nominated for employee of the year where I work. I busted my ass this past year; working almost 300 hours of overtime most of which was weekends and late evenings. I successfully architected and developed two major pieces of software to support our business development group, blah, and the list goes on.... Who wins? The fucking people who schmooze up to their managers and play golf together on the weekends... A.K.A. the same people who do next to nothing day to day.

Oh well. I think I will take all the extra time and energy I used to use for going the extra mile at work and run a couple extra miles instead! Fuck it.

Pugster. :mad:

ouch man.. its events like that that make people stop caring.

reminds me of peter from office space, doing just enough work to not get fired, where michael bolton busted his ass every day; peter gets the promotion, michael gets canned.

sucks man.. but it proves personal skills are very important in work.

ouch man.. its events like that that make people stop caring.

reminds me of peter from office space, doing just enough work to not get fired, where michael bolton busted his ass every day; peter gets the promotion, michael gets canned.

sucks man.. but it proves personal skills are very important in work.

I got personal skills! What you mean is golf skills, drinking buddy skills... etc. :db:

I got personal skills! What you mean is golf skills, drinking buddy skills... etc. :db:
exactly :) once you get into shape, then you can start working on the golf game. i'll fly out there and teach you if i have to. great sport.

exactly :) once you get into shape, then you can start working on the golf game. i'll fly out there and teach you if i have to. great sport.

Golf: A good walk spoiled.

I was looking forward to today's weigh in because my cardio has been pretty intense this week... really focused on getting a solid 45 minutes in every morning, except Sunday, my day off.

So, without further delay.... my weight today... is... 265.0!!! That is down 3.2 pounds from last week. I am extremely pleased with my progress thus far and have a few thigns to focus on:

1. pack more meals to take to work to avoid "guessing" the nutritional value of foods.

2. drink more water.

3. drink NO coffee after 11 am.

4. continue to get to bed around 9:30/10:00 pm.

5. be sure to eat close to the daily calories as calculated.

So today starts week 3 and I am off to a great start. I just got in from the gym (weighed myself before going) and I nailed another 45 minutes on the elliptical machine for a little over 5 miles in distance and 795 calories burned.

Alll in all, a good week 2 and going to be an even better week 3. My clothes are starting to be a little less snug and I feel less bloated and groggy during the day. This is also my first week on the AD med Lexapro which is known for its weight gaining side affect.... I seem to have avoided that for now but will continue to pay close attention.

Anyway, off to eat, dress, and catch the bus to work!

Have a great wednesday everyone!

Pug :tu:

3. drink NO coffee after 11 am.

Hey, pug, what's the reason for that? Just curious, because I'm having too much coffee lately and was wondering whether that would kill some of the progress.

You are doing great!! Keep the spirit up. You're a source of motivation.

Hey, pug, what's the reason for that? Just curious, because I'm having too much coffee lately and was wondering whether that would kill some of the progress.

You are doing great!! Keep the spirit up. You're a source of motivation.

Hi Cziffra,

No real reasoning I guess. I try to limit my sugar/cafeeine intake to the morning hours, giving my body all day to kind of settle down; caffeine for me makes my heart beat a little quicker... makes me a little jittery... but it also wakes me up in the AM so once I'm awake, I'm awake! :D and no need to keep waking my already wake self up.. he he. Once in awhile I do have a cup in the afternoon if I need a boost but hopefully getting more rest will keep me going longer during the day and I won't need it.

Thanks for stopping by I am glad that my journal is motivational... I'm trying to keep motivated myself and stick to it this time. I had a few wakeup calls that are keeping me very focused so I don't see this train jumping track again.

Take care!

Pug :bb:

No real reasoning I guess. I try to limit my sugar/cafeeine intake to the morning hours, giving my body all day to kind of settle down;
I always wash my caffeine pill down with a can of diet coke. :D

have a good day pug, keep up the good work and dont let work get you down even though you'r being used by the man! :tucool:

I always wash my caffeine pill down with a can of diet coke. :D

have a good day pug, keep up the good work and dont let work get you down even though you'r being used by the man! :tucool:

I am about to take a 20K pay cut and stand up for myself and get a new JOB! w00t!!! Ok, maybe not, but I am done getting trampled on... Pug runs the show roung these parts... now gets to coding people, stop wasting time! LOL

Nah, work sucks either way you slice it. I have been thinking about getting into nutrition and physical training. A little premature I know, considering I am an overweight load right now, but someday perhaps....

I see you are out running right now.. good man! Keep up the good work... you are quite motivational! :tucool:

Pug

Good morning everyone.

Got to bed a little later than expected last night... 10:15ish instead of 9:30 and I was actually a little sluggish this morning. I am trying to get my body to adjust to the much earlier bedtime. Adequate sleep is a must for me; lack of rest and too much work led to me falling off the wagon last time so I had to make some adjustments to my daily routine.

Anyway, I got up this morning at 4:45 as usual and walked over to the gym (the whole 50 yards) and did 45 minutes of cardio on the elliptical for 800 calories burned and a traveled distance of 5.3 miles. Not too bad. I think to mix things up a little and keep my body guessing I might toss in HIIT cardio on the weekends, take Mondays off from cardio then pick up with my elliptical on T,W,Th,F. Any opinions on that? I know some say it is too much cardio, but I actually enjoy it and when it feels like it's too much or my body tells me to ease up, I surely will.

I am also going to ween myself off of skim milk, yogurt, and strawberries in my morning whey shake. To be honest, I know it's a lot of extra sugar I could do without, but it helps me stick with the shakes. I tried guzzling them down with water, it actually was tough! LOL. Ok Pug, ya big sissy, just fucking do it and stop bitching like a little kid. Ok, done. Starting tomorrow morning, I will try just water/whey...:rolleyes:

Ok, that's enough... off to get dressed and work. Work has sucked lately. I need to start my own fucking company where requirements documents are actually used and where the programmers are consulted before promises in functionality are promised. Or, I could become a male exotic dancer once I get all ripped up.... hmmmmmm, interesting though.

Have a good Thursday.

Pug :tu:

Good morning everyone!

Another day... I am feeling tired this morning, especially after another 45 minutes of good cardio this morning; burning 800 calories and traveling 5.4 miles. I am definitely looking forward to my off day to rest up a bit. I am not going to partake in cheat meals just yet (maybe never)... they tend to throw me way off track.

Anyway, I have a ton of work to do today so I should run along!

Have a great day and keep up the good work, I feel great... even at 264 :tu:


Pug

Felt weird not getting up at 4:40 AM this morning. Hehe. I actually slept in a little and got some rest. Got up, ate some breakfast and ran some errands. Came back did a little reading (I never read!!) and I am feeling so full of energy again. This is great!

My fiance wants to go to the Outback Steakhouse tonight for dinner so I thought I would watch my calories extra close today so I would feel ok about ordering some chicken, salad, and a diet coke. It is not even a cheat meal I know, but I was not going to eat out at all if I could help it....

I will be going to the gym tomorrow morning early as I have to work tomorrow (on SUNDAY!..grrr) in order to take some software applications offline for upgrades and maintenance. Anyway, have a great day and I will lurk later!

Pug :cool:

My fiance wants to go to the Outback Steakhouse tonight for dinner so I thought I would watch my calories extra close today so I would feel ok about ordering some chicken, salad, and a diet coke. It is not even a cheat meal I know, but I was not going to eat out at all if I could help it....


Hey pug,

I like your journal. I've basically been reading people's journal's all day. Lazy saturday. Man what a roller coaster ride yours is. It's like a movie, with twists and turns. I hope you recovered from your accident.

Sorry work has been frustrating. I found it to be very non-goal orriented. sure you want to do a good job, but there is no real long term goal, like 2-3 years away. School always had a graduate in a few years kind of goal. That's why I wound up going back to grad school. but I'll have to go back to the work world eventually.

Regards to your above post, man I love outback :drool: None where I live in Boston, I won't mention any favorites as it seems you wouldn't want to hear it right now.

Well goodluck with your fitness goals. I have to see how this movie ends.:D

Hey pug,

I like your journal. I've basically been reading people's journal's all day. Lazy saturday. Man what a roller coaster ride yours is. It's like a movie, with twists and turns. I hope you recovered from your accident.

Sorry work has been frustrating. I found it to be very non-goal orriented. sure you want to do a good job, but there is no real long term goal, like 2-3 years away. School always had a graduate in a few years kind of goal. That's why I wound up going back to grad school. but I'll have to go back to the work world eventually.

Regards to your above post, man I love outback :drool: None where I live in Boston, I won't mention any favorites as it seems you wouldn't want to hear it right now.

Well goodluck with your fitness goals. I have to see how this movie ends.:D

Thanks for reading it... it is a comilation of all the bullshit excuses and whining one can partake in. It actually disgusts me. When work gets tough I can still eat good... I copped out last time and blamed eating bad on work stress. Same goes for getting hurt. I could have still eaten good. It was all bullshit. I thought by journalizing it, it would somehow be excused. Well, there is no one to excuse it nor should it be!!! I am on track now, trying my darndest. It will take time but it will work out in the long run.

I hope the book ends with a picture of me at about 190 and ripped. :tu:

Until then, the chapters continue!

Pug

Good morning everyone!

If you are a regular to my journal, or were in the past, you can recall that I fell off the wagon when I let my job begin to consume me; working 16-18 hour days, 7 days a week, pulling all nighters, etc. Well yesterday I had to go into work (Sunday) to take care of a maintenance release for a piece of software. My boss wanted it released for the end users to be able to use as of this morning at 8 AM. Guess what? It didn't get released. I left 15 minutes before my bed time and got home in time to stick to my schedule... so fuck IT and fuck the managers who only think about the bottom line all the time, I won. If companies would invest more in their employees, turnover in IT related companies wouldn't be so damn high.... but instead they insist on driving employees (programmers like myself) to burnout whereby they can just replace us with the cheap college graduates. That's cool, go for it... I am not going to let myself, let my job affect my health, period... end of story, fuck off, fuck you very much, have a nice fucking day... pug wins.

Ok, so on to this morning. I wound up taking Saturday and Sunday off from cardio which I felt extremely guilty about, until I got to the gym this morning! I hopped on the elliptical machine for 45 minutes and felt full of energy. I could have gone for an hour, but wanted to stick to my plan... 45 minutes M-F. I burnt another 775 calories and traveled a little over 5 miles. It felt great!

Well, off to eat and get to work. Have a great day and start the week off right... eat clean and do some cardio!

Take care,

Pug :tu:

:claphigh: way to go pug. you show those greedy bastards. Back when I was working, they would have me working on way too many things, like 8 or 9. And everything I was working on was due immediately. It's not like we were in an unusually busy time. This was the norm. I remember telling my supervisor I can't possibly do it all. His response was, well, can't you just come in this weekend and bang out 20-30 hours of work? so much for great supervisor training. That's their solution, can't you just throw many more hours of unpaid work at the problem? Idiots.

I hear ya... All through college I sat there thinking, the money will trump any kind of work they throw at me... any amount of hours they require me to work... but after 7 years of programming I can tell you that I would prefer to go home at a decent hour, have the weekends to myself, friends, and family, and have a desire to come to work... all that is worth more than any good salary any day and that is what I am finding out.

Anyway, I actually feel great here this morning. My manager understood why things weren't done and in hindsight he says "no big deal, no one needs the application until Friday anyway"... Why you stupid SOB I outta.... LOL. :cool:

Anyway, thanks for the reply! Have a great monday!

Pug, the wagon driver!

sounds like SOMEBODY's got a case of the moondays

sounds like SOMEBODY's got a case of the moondays

have you seen my stapler? :spaz:

sounds like SOMEBODY's got a case of the moondays

Nah..nah, man, I think you would get your ass kicked for saying something like that. :lol:

Good morning all.. just a quick update. Tore my cardio up this morning: 45 minutes on the elliptical burning 815 calories and traveling 5.30 miles! Go me. I feel fucking incredible.... excuse the language, I am just really feeling good these days. I am a little tired though; two nights of working late is kicking my arse!

Have a great day everyone; tomorrow is weigh-in day and I expect some great results!

Pug :D

Good morning all.. just a quick update. Tore my cardio up this morning: 45 minutes on the elliptical burning 815 calories and traveling 5.30 miles! Go me. I feel fucking incredible.... excuse the language, I am just really feeling good these days. I am a little tired though; two nights of working late is kicking my arse!

Have a great day everyone; tomorrow is weigh-in day and I expect some great results!

Pug :D
good job sticking to it! :tucool:
do you take any days off from cardio?
start weights yet?

Awesome work on the cardio. the elliptical is hard work. I second wh0areume's question, any weights? You have to add weight training, it definitely helped me with my weight loss.

good job sticking to it! :tucool:
do you take any days off from cardio?
start weights yet?

I used to do cardio 6 days a week, M-Sat and then take Sundays off... but now I am doing cardio M-F and taking the weekend off (no cheat meals). The rest really seems to get me ready for the coming week.

No weights yet. :(

Pug

Awesome work on the cardio. the elliptical is hard work. I second wh0areume's question, any weights? You have to add weight training, it definitely helped me with my weight loss.

Yes, I am going to add weights in at the start of month two. I wanted to give myself a month to get back into it and find out what kind of schedule I could work up. I will be doing cardio M-F in the AM, then lifting weights T,Th,Sa in the PM. Sunday will still be totally off. I have to figure out what kind of exercises I can do given the equipment in our apartment complex gym (all nautulus and a dumb bell set 2lbs-50lbs (i think). I will post the exact machines and enlist your help in setting up a program!

Pug

Just a quick post on this morning's weigh in: 263.4 lbs. I was expecting lower numbers but I understand why.... I have been drinking much more water the past couple days. I feel like I made better progress than 1.8 pounds so the scale is a reference point setter only. Off to the gym for some kick ass cardio. I will follow up with my normal post upon return.

Pug :flex:

Edit: 6:30 am

Awesome awesome cardio workout. 45 minutes, just under 6 miles and 825 calories burned. I really feel like I am in the groove! I need to go make a nice breakfast and get ready to catch the bus to work. Have a great "over the hump" day everyone :tu:

hey, the only thing that matters is that your clothes are fitting better, and you look better in the mirror everyday! if you bought a taylor bodyfat scale, or used calipers, you'd probably see how much progress you REALLY made.

either way... 1.8 lbs is still progress.

I wouldnt use the scale as your only measurement tool. Youve probably added some muscle weight with all the exersize youve been doing. If you cant get your body fat tested, a good old tape measure is a good tool. Measure you chest stomach waist neck thighs etc. These maesurements and how you feel are way more important than what the scale says.

Mark

I wouldnt use the scale as your only measurement tool. Youve probably added some muscle weight with all the exersize youve been doing. If you cant get your body fat tested, a good old tape measure is a good tool. Measure you chest stomach waist neck thighs etc. These maesurements and how you feel are way more important than what the scale says.

Mark

Back when I first started out, I bought a fat caliper which came with a myotape measuring tape... I should get that out and use that and weigh myself once a month! Mentally, I beat on myself based on what the scale says. I imagine that I am building muscle with all the exercise which would explain why my legs look way bettttttttttter than the rest of me :bb:

Pug

The thing I am looking forward to the most is for people who don't know me, to not address me with "Hey big guy, hows it going".. WTF is that? The next person who does it is gonna catch a kick to the crotch. :mad:

The thing I am looking forward to the most is for people who don't know me, to not address me with "Hey big guy, hows it going".. WTF is that? :mad:

You say that now - but then once you drop down like I have and people start addressing you with the "Hey Skinny Man!" - you get the twinge of wanting to kick them in the crotch all over again.

I am not Skinny - I am HEALTHY!!!! And I really want to see myself in the sub 12% arena before I even consider putting any weight back on - I guess they'll start saying "Hey twig-man!" before too long.

People are just stupid. Go with that knowledge and the days are more bearable. :eek:

You say that now - but then once you drop down like I have and people start addressing you with the "Hey Skinny Man!" - you get the twinge of wanting to kick them in the crotch all over again.

I am not Skinny - I am HEALTHY!!!! And I really want to see myself in the sub 12% arena before I even consider putting any weight back on - I guess they'll start saying "Hey twig-man!" before too long.

People are just stupid. Go with that knowledge and the days are more bearable. :eek:

True true. :tu:

Do you have any progress pics vatechguy? Sounds like you have made some amazing progress so far!

Pug

Good morning all!

Another great cardio workout this morning! 830 calories burned, traveling about 5.4 miles. It felt good to push myself this morning, like every morning. I feel good.

I am off to make my whey shake and get ready for work! Have a great Thursday and keep pressing on.

Pug :cool:

Another awesome workout this morning on the elliptical machine! 45 minutes burning 830 calories and traveling 5.5 miles. I am really feeling good about my cardio workouts. I am also lookign forward to tomorrow as it is my off day and I can use the rest!

I am doing much better on the water consumption too! I am sipping all day instead of gulping down 12 oz. here and there.

I am gonna try and get to work early today so I can leave early!! Woo Hoo! Have a great friday everyone!!!

Pug :tu:

I think i need to drink more water - i'm talkn' at least 2 gallons a day. i'm going to keep 3 full glasses at my desk at all times.

I think i need to drink more water - i'm talkn' at least 2 gallons a day. i'm going to keep 3 full glasses at my desk at all times.

Just remember, there is such a thing as too much water... hypotoxicity (i think). Anyway, it can kill you :nod:

My body loves Saturdays... the first day of rest after a nice long week of clean eating and working out so early in the AM. I had a cheat meal last night: the fiance and I went to the Outback :D I had:

Couple pieces of a blooming onion (I just couldn't stomach the grease!)
Salad w/ honey mustard dressing
Chicken on the barbie w/ veggies (only ate hald the chicken)
Couple diet cokes and a glass of water

We then went to the mall and ran some errands and on the way home we stopped for ice cream. I had: 2 scoops strawberry ice cream with blueberry topping and whip cream. It was so good.

The surprising thing is, I feel good this morning... a little guilty, but good. I earned a nice nite out and its not like I ate shitty all day... just dinner... so fuck it, it was good and well deserved, I am back to clean eating this morning. I actually want to go to the gym today but am gonna hold off and go tomorrow I think. I need to make myself take a day or two off so I don't burn out. The cardio really gets me moving in the AMs though so I do enjoy it so maybe I will go today and take tomorrow off.... damnit I hate making decisions. LOL

Anyway, off to clean the apartment! Woo Hoo. not. :flex:

Pug

The surprising thing is, I feel good this morning... a little guilty, but good.
Pug

When are you going to get serious and start the weights? I didn't follow the journal pages all the way thru, but it looks like you do a lot of cardio.

When are you going to get serious and start the weights? I didn't follow the journal pages all the way thru, but it looks like you do a lot of cardio.

I am actually halfway through the book you recommended me the other day. I went right out and got it and have to say it is fantastic. I start the weights this Tuesday. I am doing a 3 day split: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. I am working on putting my exercises down for each day. I will admit, I have been really focused on cardio solely but am looking forward to getting weights involved, especially since it is key is fat loss and getting healthy.

Pug

Good morning everyone!

I got a shitload of rest this weekend. Ate good, drank lots of water and just relaxed. I was going to workout one of the weekend days but decided that I had not been doing that the last 3 weeks so no need to do it now if I was making progress (which I am). So, I rested Saturday and Sunday and it felt great.

I just got in from this morning's cardio workout.... 45 minutes on the elliptical traveling 5.45 miles and burning 825 calories. It still feels really good to do cardio every morning. I am starting with the weights this week as well: tuesday, thursday, saturday will be my weight days which means Sunday will be a total day of rest. Saturday will be weights only.

I finished the book "A Flat Stomach ASAP" this weekend after it was recommended by rtestes. It has some great information, especially on how consuming water (ice cold) all day helps in weight/fat loss. It also describes the lifting technique known as "super slow" which is a slow (10 second postivie and 5 second negative) repetition while lifting weights. I will be following that when I start on Tuesday. I highly recommend the book to everyone, especially those looking for trim that last bit of fat off their abs to get the 6 pack showing (I am a ways away from this, trust me!).

Anyway, off to make my shake and get ready for work. Have a good Mooooonday!

Pug :tu:

Wow. I just wanted to post again real quick... my 42" dress pants are falling off my ass. My watch is spinning around my wrist and my face doesn't look so bloated. Fuck the scale, these are the results I like. :D

Pug

Wow. I just wanted to post again real quick... my 42" dress pants are falling off my ass. My watch is spinning around my wrist and my face doesn't look so bloated. Fuck the scale, these are the results I like. :D

Pug
Blue your my BOY! Results are great aren't they? Have you started lifting yet? oh wait, nevermind - it's monday. :gl: :claplow: :tucool:

Blue your my BOY! Results are great aren't they? Have you started lifting yet? oh wait, nevermind - it's monday. :gl: :claplow: :tucool:

Are you making fun of me cuz of rtestes post? I was a little puzzled by his meaning of "when are you going to get serious and start the weights".... I am not pussing out on weights I am just getting into it. Oh well, good luck to me, congrats to me :D

Are you making fun of me cuz of rtestes post? I was a little puzzled by his meaning of "when are you going to get serious and start the weights".... I am not pussing out on weights I am just getting into it. Oh well, good luck to me, congrats to me :D
no, i had posted the thing about weights before i had read the other posts, then went back and edited my post, but left the part where i asked about the wieghts when i really should have just gotten rid of the whole weights thing all together, but theen there wouldv been nothing to say in the post except some meaningless quote from "Old School"

no, i had posted the thing about weights before i had read the other posts, then went back and edited my post, but left the part where i asked about the wieghts when i really should have just gotten rid of the whole weights thing all together, but theen there wouldv been nothing to say in the post except some meaningless quote from "Old School"

Rock on. I am spending a couple hours tonight redoing my diet.... I think I could be making better progress if I pay as much attention to the diet as I do to the freaking cardio! Gonna stop home, plan some detailed meals then head to the store to stock up on some good foods. Word up :flex:

The one month mark is approaching and I think I will be down 10 pounds, which is awesome, 2.5 pounds a week. We shall see on Wednesday!

How come you didnt send me any ridiculous email today? LOL

Pug

Sorry for the late post. I was hooking the VCR (remember those!) up last night for my fiance and manged to mangle the coax cable lead to the cable router (cheap cable). Needless to say it was 9 PM and I wanted to get to bed on time so I did not take the time to rerun the coax around the room and out to the splitter, thus I had to internet connection this morning to post my morning blurb.

Anyway, I got to the gym this morning for cardio, 45 minutes, just under 6 miles traveled and about 830 calories burned. Woo Hoo. Tomorrow will be 1 month weigh in, I can't wait. I am anticipating about 10 pounds gone, but we shall see, I have a feeling all the cardio is packing on some muscle.

Tonight is my first night doing weights at the gym, yikes. It's been so long since I last lifted. Anyway, if anyone has any recommendations for some good starting exercises for chest and bis lemme know.

Back to work I go,

Pug :tu:

Holy flying dunderheads, I hope I am not as week as my muscles led me to believe during my first night of lifting. Ugh, I felt like a sissy, and I know I shouldn't because I am out there doing something at least but c'mon already, I used to be strong.... so I thought!

Anyway, I went to the gym for day 1 of lifting. I did the following:

Seated Military Press - 3 sets: 12x, 10x 8x
Seated Bench Press - 3 sets: 12x, 10x, 8x
Lat Pull Down (closer grip) - 3 sets: 12x, 10x, 8x
Lat Pull Down (wider grip) - 3 sets: 12x, 10x, 8x
Seated Rows (vertical grip) - 3 sets: 12x, 10x, 8x
Seated Rows (horizontal grip) - 3 sets: 12x, 10x, 8x

I could feel the workout in my arms A LOT. I thought maybe I was using too much arm for some of them. I went slow and used light weight (although it was heavier than I expected!). I focused on form but I was really tense since it was my first time lifting weights since sophomore year of high school (way back in 1996!). My arms are sore already, not aching sore, but a nice burn sore. I am not sure if I did everything too fast or what, but it only took me 20 minutes to go through everything above. I rested for like 1 minute between exercises and 30 seconds between sets, if that.

Please please please comment on the exercises performed. I am going Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights so I am definitely open for suggestions, comments, feedback, etc. I feel good for taking the time to go but I feel like the performance was shitty... I dunno. Anyway, I am off to get ready for bed. Next post will be in the AM after cardio!

Pug

Well having had my first weight lifting day last night I knew waking up this morning would be a real kick in the balls in terms of being sore, and sure enough, my entire upper body is sore. I am still awaiting some replies to my journal entry above as to whether or not I am on the right track with exercises and reps and sets, etc. Anyway, I drug my sore butt outta bed and went to the gym for some more fasted cardio: 45 minutes traveling 5.45 miles and burning 830 calories. It felt good and the motion on the elliptical helped loosen my upper body out some.... although washing my arms in the shower a few minutes ago was a bit of a struggle :rolleyes:

Anyway, today was also weigh in day. I tipped the scales at 261.2 which is about a pound more than I thought but I will attribute that pound to water weight for now and be very proud of myself for sticking to this transformation thus far. I feel great. My clothes fit better and I am getting waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more sleep than I am used to. In fact, I used to average 3-4 hours of sleep a night which is hardly enough to say the least. I am now getting between 6 and 7 hours of sleep and it makes a huge difference in my ability to function during the day and have the energy to focus on work, eating, and working out.

As I go into month two the biggest thing for me to pay attention to is diet. I need to make better food choices and not be satisfied with staying at my target caloric intake but ensure the macro breakdown is optimal. Starting this morning I will be paying very close attention to the food I ingest to ensure I am maximizing my fat loss while minimizing any lean muscle loss.

Here is to the start of month two! Keep up the good work everyone and keep the feedback coming!

Pug :tu:

Ok, not to sound too gross but taking fish oil caps in the AM with breakfast then burping a couple hours later puts a foul ass fish stench in your breathe... gross.

Ok, not to sound too gross but taking fish oil caps in the AM with breakfast then burping a couple hours later puts a foul ass fish stench in your breathe... gross.

I once gave a guy in our office 10 bucks to chew one. He almost passed out it was so nasty. He still has flashbacks. I dont seem to have any problems taking them if I take them with food. what brand are you taking. Ive heard some are more fishy than others.

Mark

personally, i like the fishy taste :D

Just remember, there is such a thing as too much water... hypotoxicity (i think). Anyway, it can kill you :nod:
Wouldn't worry about it. I would have been dead many times over.

Good morning everyone. Not a lot of time this morning for an in depth post as I have to get to work early for a meeting :rolleyes:

Anyway, I did the cardio this morning, 45 minutes burning 830 calories traveling 5.45 miles, it felt great. My whole upper body is still sore from Tuesday's weight lifting and I am lifting again tonight so hopefully my body starts to get into the groove.

I will post more later, I gotta run and get ready for work. Have a great day!

Pug

Well tonight is weight lifting night #2 for the week. As previously stated I am sore as hell. I think I will do a warmup set for each exercise to focus, stretch a little and ensure form then will do 2 sets of each exercise to positive failure.... I am not sure what time I will lift but I know that it won't be long after I'm done that I will be ready to crash for the night... after a nice PWO meal of course :eat:

Holy cow am I sore. I was sore going to the gym.... once I got into the exercises it felt good, I loosened up and had a good workout. A couple things:

1. Go slow and pay attention to form. If form gets sloppy lighten the load.

2. I am lifting weights for me, not to impress every meat head and hot chick that happens to be in there also.

3. Learn what to eat post workout to refuel the muscles. Tonight I had a protien shake.... I am not sure what to eat after lifting so feel free to chime in.

Well since I can't hardly move my arms and back I think I will call it a night! Don't be worried I am not in pain, just sore and tight from doing something my body has not experienced in about 12 years. :) Hopefully the discomfort and soreness will subside as my body adjust.

Have a good night and I'll check back in when I get in from AM cardio.

Pug

Cardio was great. Got a great sweat going and went another 5.45 miles in 45 minutes, burning 830 calories. These cardio workouts in the AM really wake me up and get me ready for the day. I might be going to hard on the cardio as my heart rate stays around 155 when in fact it should be around 130(ish).... it feels good though so maybe I will just leave it be for now. Now that I am lifting 3x per week muscle loss should be minimal, I hope.

Well, off to get dressed and head to work! Have a great day and feel free to post suggestions for post workout meals / shakes / supplements.

Pug :tu:

My body is so looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow! Tomorrow night is weight lifting day #3... wow... the days go by so fast. Anyway, I am much looser this evening, a little sore, a little stiff but it actually feels good :)

I won't be posting in the AM because my body will be resting, but I will post an update after tomorrow's lift.

Take care!

Pug

Sorry for missing my post on Saturday. After my Saturday evening lift I wanted to get to the grill outside before it started raining. Luckily I just made it as got to grill up 4 NY Strip steaks (fat trimmed after cooking). I might have another for lunch today... mmm mmmm mmmm :nod:

Anyway, last night I would have usually been at my mom's house for easter dinner but I did not travel up to NY this Easter since my fiance took my car to her parents. Anyway, she got in around 6 last night so we decided to grab takeout at the cheesecake factory! I was going to skip my cheat meal but decided to have it; keeps me honest during the week I guess. Anyway, I had two slices of pizza and a piece of cheesecake. I felt like total shit afterwards... my body got a sugar shock and I ready for bed after that!

I got up this morning at 430, full of energy and ready to hit the gym. I did 45 minutes on the elliptical, going almost 6 miles today and burning 830 calories. I feel great, people are noticing my face and gut thinning out and I can not wait to weigh in on Wednesday. I have a feeling the lifting is really helping, along with the water consumption! Anyway, I am going into work late this morning as I have some things to take care of here at home.

Talk to you later! Have a great Monday.

Pug :cool:

Lucky me! I got to work from home today! I am pumped, my fedex package came from Kent Nutrition... those guys have some lightening fast service! I will go to the rental office and pick it up. I got some Dex Peptide and something else.. i forgot... LOL.

Laterz!

Pug

Good morning everyone!

I had a great workout this morning on the elliptical...sweat my ass off and it felt really good. Another 45 minutes, almost 6 miles, and 830 calories burned! Tonight is also lifting night so I need to be sure to eat enough, drink enough, and not overdue it today at work; hopefully work will be a light-load day.

Tomorrow is weigh-in day and I can't wait to see if I bust through the 260 barrier. I should be around 258, keep your fingers crossed!!! I definitely think getting involved with the weights is helping, just as many have told me it will (psssst, thanks rtestes). :tu:

Well, time for me to make a nice shake and get ready for work! I will talk to all of you later! Take care.

Pug :cool:

I thiking about joining the basketball league here at work... they meet up on Thursdays. I used to be very good at the game and loved to play it. I remember when I was 178 pounds in junior high, not far, just stocky... I was extremely fast and loved to play the outside. I think I will sign up and give it a go... it has been awhile since I have played competitively, but It should be a lot of fun!

go for it! its definatly alot of excersize

I thiking about joining the basketball league here at work...!

You might wait till cut is near the end. You can get too active - overtraining. You are already placing your body under new stress, you are doing cardio, and working out nearly 5-6 days a week. You have enough on your plate.

Think about it. Your body's present condition wasn't build in a day. You have a long future of activity before you. Will Basketball be available in future? The juices are flowing but let them work on recovery, rebuilding and reducing. :gl:

You might wait till cut is near the end. You can get too active - overtraining. You are already placing your body under new stress, you are doing cardio, and working out nearly 5-6 days a week. You have enough on your plate.

Think about it. Your body's present condition wasn't build in a day. You have a long future of activity before you. Will Basketball be available in future? The juices are flowing but let them work on recovery, rebuilding and reducing. :gl:

My cut has a loooooooooong way to go! Tomorrow is weigh-in day. I should be down to about 258/259. That means I have about 60 more pounds to go.... which means I might not see the basketball court for quite some time! :rolleyes: But I do agree.. maybe I should hold off for now. With my luck I'd blow a knee out! LOL

With my luck I'd blow a knee out! LOL

That also came to mind, I thought I would let you mention it. :nod:

That also came to mind, I thought I would let you mention it. :nod:

So very kind :flex:

Good Morning Everyone.

Today is weigh in day. I got up, took a leak, stepped on the scale hoping to see maybe 259 or 258 and what did I see...... 256.8!!!! WOW! That's almost 4 pounds. I can't say its water weight because I have been drinking about a gallon a day and limiting my sodium as to not retain much. The only thing I can attribute it to is lifting weights. This is week 2 of lifting weights so I am certain that has something to do with the increased fat loss. I am sure rtestes is dancing :D

Anyway, I went off to the gym VERY pleased. I hopped on the elliptical and pumped out 45 minutes and burned 810 calories and traveled 5.30 miles.... The sweat, the music, the workout... it was all great!

When I saw 256.8 on the scale I thought back to when I saw 258 back when I first attempted to change my life. I got caught up in work (working 24 hour days!) and fell off the wagon face first.... read back through my early journal, it's all documented. Anyway, I think the fact that I didn't see 258 and went right to 256 is a sign. Call me nutty but I think it's a sign. Not to quit, not to give up, just keep plugging away. My weddingmoon to St. Lucia is coming up on June 13th. My goal to be 239 by then looks like it really can happen, if not exceeded! I just need to stay focused and on point, which seems to be going very well.

Well I have some chores to take care of this AM before heading off to work so I should get a move-on. Have a great day everyone and keep plugging away, the results are so worth it, no matter how big or small.

Pug :cool:

Good Morning Everyone.

Today is weigh in day. I got up, took a leak, stepped on the scale hoping to see maybe 259 or 258 and what did I see...... 256.8!!!! WOW!

:claphigh:

Well done. You are gonna be there in no time. You took control of your own life and nothing can stop you now.

Keep the outstanding job!!!

what did I see...... 256.8!!!!

NICE!!! now there's no way you can stop. i know that feels great!
:tucool: :tucool:

Good Morning Everyone.

Yeah - I'm still here. :tu:



Today is weigh in day. I got up, took a leak, stepped on the scale hoping to see maybe 259 or 258 and what did I see...... 256.8!!!!


That leak can make all the difference some days. This is fantastic news, and I'm excited for you. I'll keep lurking and expecting some major news like this from time to time - I'll even expect to see you tough out the oncoming plateaus.

From this kind of progress, I imagine you're doing everything right. You are clearly eating right and still having a good amount of energy (and attitude) to keep your training going strong. It looks tweaked enough not to mess with it, so don't go overboard and don't taper off!

And some pics in another 10lbs or so would be nice!

Ken

P..U..G.....Go PUG! :claplow:

Thanks for the feedback everyone... I thrive off knowing I am motivating others, not just others motivating me!

My damn pants keep sliding down and my shirt looks sloppy... damnit. LOL. *Sinches belt tighter!

Pug

Well I have decided to give the Swolegenix program a shot. I have contacted Chris via email and he has replied. I sent him a couple questions I have and once he answers them I think it is going to be game on! The testimonials and before/after pics on his site and the praise he gets on here is proof enough that the program works.

My main reason for wanting to incorporate this into my transformation is to get my food intake regulated; learn what to eat and when and why. I fear that my 13 pound weight loss thus far has included too much LBM. I would like to preserve as much as possible and really get to the fat loss! I also want to learn when, why, and what to take in terms of supplements and shakes, etc. I have the motivation and what not in regards to cardio, but I need more information on diet. Anyway, there are more reasons but I am not going into all of them.

I hope given the limited weight equipment available to me, he can work me up a program!

I will keep ya posted!

Pug

Yo!

Another 45 minutes of cardio this AM. 800+ calories burned and traveled just under 6 miles on the good ol' elliptical. Yesterday was weigh in day and I weighED 256.8. This is not accurate I don't think. Either I had a lot of sodium yesterday and am retaining water or I just lucked out when I stept on the scale and had next to nothing in my stomach.... anyway, I think a more accurate weigh-in weight would have been ~258.0. I was looking over my caloric intake and expeditures over last week and I get just over a 2 pound difference so 4.5 pounds can not be accurate. I will leave the numbers as is but just wanted to warn you and myself that enxt weeks numbers will probably be this weeks number (256). Anyway, who cares, I feel great. :)

I gotta get a shake made, and get my car to the dealership before I head into work (they better fix the front brakes finally, I am sick of taking this new car in EVERY OTHER MONTH!...GRRRRR).

Have a great day everyone!

Pug

hah.. i've done that before when i was cutting. i'd say to myself "well that looks a little too low, if i'm still at this point next week its fine" hehe.

what kind of car do you have?

EDIT: WOW! i just noticed you lost over 10 lbs this month!!! that's awesome pug!! seriously! you'r going to look great for your wedding at this rate. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment. :tucool:

hah.. i've done that before when i was cutting. i'd say to myself "well that looks a little too low, if i'm still at this point next week its fine" hehe.

what kind of car do you have?

EDIT: WOW! i just noticed you lost over 10 lbs this month!!! that's awesome pug!! seriously! you'r going to look great for your wedding at this rate. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment. :tucool:

Thanks Wh0! It's fun man.. I am in a nice rythm. Going to bed early, waking up early, thinking before I eat, drinking water instead of coffee and soda... it all helps. The feedback and conversing with people on here makes you feel accountable not only to yourself, which is most important, but to all your "fans" or those who read your journal day in and day out for inspiration or just to follow along. -10 pounds in 1 month is awesome for me, I am feeling great.

Anyway, my car is a 2003 Mazda 6 Sport. About 4 months after I bought the car (May 2003) I painted the calipars red. It looks real nice and the car itself looks nice. I bought it brand new, only 100 miles on it... I drove it off the showroom floor. I was pumped. Anyway, I paint the calipars and everything is fine. It has been almost 2 full years and I have had no problems with the car aside from a couple recalls. Then all of a sudden the the rear Bose sub woofer blows into three pieces. WOW. I got the car loaded because of the Bose system, its' sound fucking rocks. I take the car in, it is under warranty and they replace the woofer ($400). In the process of doing that something got fucked up with the electrical cuz my fog lights, headlights, and parking lights kept burning out! On top of all that the front pads were low so I had them put new break pads on it (23,000 miles).

Ok, so they replace the woofer, front brake pads, a wiring harness for the light problem, and I am good as new. 2 weeks later all the lights blow again. I go back yet again to the Mazda dealership and they replace the lights... all of them. 4 hours later I am on the road. Ok fluke I guess. So the brake work they just did feels good then I start hearing some weird grinding/clickity clak in the front drivers side.... back to the dealership yet again. "Sir the painted calipars are causing the springs behind the pads to stick, its not serious its just causing the noise, there is nothing to do". I say ok, I painted them so I will deal with the noise as long as it is not damaging. The sound continues for a couple weeks, and by then the paint should have worn off or the part should have ground down to not make the noise.... but it worsens. So that is where I am. the rotors are grooved up from the "sticky paint" and there is definitely something going on with the brakes that is not right. They will try and make it my fault for painting the calipars, but rest assured, I only got it on non-moving parts and they haven't EVER acted like this until AFTER the pads got replaced!

Anyway, they better fix the fucking brakes and the light problem or the BBB, MazdaUSA, and the county office will be hearing from me. I have wasted numerous personal hours driving back and forth to this dealership. There is one closer but they are terrible. The other one across town is owned by the same one this current one is. The dealership where I bought the car is about an hour and fifteen minutes away so I seldom take it there. The point is that I paid the dealership to do the brake work and I expect my car to run as good, if not better than when I brought it in, and it doesn't so they better get off their asses and fix it before I start tossing wrenches and air guns! :flex:

I am sick of rental cars and bullshit service stations. I want my car fixed damnit!

Pug.

Car Update.

Rotors replaced. Both sides. Brake calipars torn apart, cleaned, pads reseated, springs oiled in calipars, problem solved. Cause... no one knows. If the calipars got that grimy on the inside I sure as hell would like to know why! I think I will go back to washing my car by hand and spending the hour or two everyother weekend cleaning it up and making sure I know what the hell is sticking to things. Jeeez. They also replaced the blown bulbs and checked the wiring from the light units to the fusebox to the harness, to the battery and it all looked good. They said it was just a blown bulb. The voltage meters tests all came back right on point so nothing out of the ordinary... they didn't charge me for a damn thing. Nice, just how I like it. Now If I have to go back in a short period of time I am going to be pretty pissed! For now, I am a happy camped, assuming when I pick it up, its ok! :flex:

Pug

Good as new. Gosh i love driving around the beltway when there is NO traffic :-)

Tonight after work I will be lifting. Gonna start writing weights down and what not, I need to make sure I push myself and not guess. Anyway, I gotta catch up on work, crap.

Pug

Oh yeah, my fiance and I finally found an English Bulldog breeder.... such a great dog!

Wow, shit... This update is coming in late because I had to clean the house up this morning after working out; my twin sister is coming to visit for the weekend! Sweeeeet! :cool:

Last night I went lifting, and was a little disappointed in myself. I really need to figure out if my approach is correct or if there is something better. Basically I do three sets of each exercise. The first set is done at a weight I can do with perfect form 12-15 times. I try not to lock out and really focus on the muscles being worked. Sets 2 and 3 are usually 5% higher than set 1 in terms of weight and I go to failure on these sets. If I get to a point where I can do sets 2 and 3 12-15, thereby failrue exceeds 12-15 reps, I move up in weight. Is this a good approach? I also count failure as the first rep where I have to break perfect form to complete the rep, is that a good approach?

Ok, so on to this morning's cardio... That went very well. I knocked off another 45 minutes on the elliptical and burned just over 800 calories while traveling just under 6 miles. I came home, waited about 30 minutes and then had a nice big whey shake! Which brings me to a few questions I have.

On the advice of many on this site, I went ahead and ordered some Dex-10 and some Glutamine Peptide. I have not begun to take them yet as I am unsure of how much to take and when and whether or not to mix it with the whey, etc. I also just realized I forgot to take my supplements and vitamins this morning, SONOFABITCH! LOL Thats twice this week. I think I will have keep some at work so if I do run off without taking them at home, I can pop them at work. Ok, back to Dex and Glut...

What and how much of Dex/Whey/Glut should I take after MORNING cardio? How long should I wait to take it? I do cardio 5 days a week M-F (4:50 AM).

What and how much of Dex/Whey/Glut should I take after EVENING weight lifting? How long should I wait to take it? I lift weights on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings.

Is there any specific foods I should also eat right around cardio or lifting times. I am trying to maximize repair and energy for my cardio and weights and I am still unclear. Any help would be much appreciated!

Ok, so I am in the groove and plugging away still. I feel great, my pants are falling off my ass and my watch fits like a million bucks, it spins around my wrist on its own!!! LOL.

Have a great Friday everyone!!

Pug

I really hate it when my journal moves to page two... just makes me feel lazy! Oh but I'm not... Anyway, I enjoyed a nice weekend with my twin sister who came down to visit me with her long time boyfriend. I had a nice cheat meal on Friday night at the cheesecak factory: pork chops, mashed potatoes, broccoli, applesauce, a beer (corona), and a piece of cheesecake. Great meal. We had some terrible storms on Saturday and Sunday which kept knocking out power so we went shopping instead of sitting around the house, etc. By the time I got home on Saturday I wasdead ass tired from all the walking around and such and fell asleep on the couch... missing my Saturday evening lift. It's the first slip in almost 7 weeks... WTF! Oh well, not the end of the world.

I decided this morning to up my cardio to 60 minutes in stead of 45. That puts me right at the 1000 calorie marker per cardio session. This morning was day 1 of the increased cardio and it felt great! This will produce a 5000 calorie difference each week from cardio alone, wow! I think I am losing more muscle than fat... the scale keeps fluctuating between 27% b/f and 30% b/f. I think I better switch to the calipers. I am still losing weight and the next weigh in day is Wednesday... I should be down around 255/256 ish. I am going to evaluate my diet a little more....

Anyway, I have a pretty busy work week so I should get a jump on that now! Take care everyone.

Pug :tu:

make sure you move your cardio back to 45 minutes.

make sure you move your cardio back to 45 minutes.

How come? 60 minutes feels great! Burning too much muscle? Enlighten me!

How come? 60 minutes feels great! Burning too much muscle? Enlighten me!
After 45 minutes, your body will feel stressed and release cortisol, which will stop fatburning and is acid to your muscles.

Swolecat's post on this:
http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?p=115220#post115220

make sure you move your cardio back to 45 minutes.

I agree. I mean, you may lose more muscle, I'm not really sure. For the past month, you are already losing over 2 pounds a week. Which is great. Losing weight faster than that is pretty much the only thing that everybody agrees is a bad idea. Some people would probably think you are already losing too fast.

I really don't know, but I do know your program is working right now. Have the patience to give it a chance. Use the determination and focus that you would put into an extra 15 minutes of cardio and use that energy to insure that you stay at your current pace well into the future.

I think at this point if you already are doing 5 x 45 min a week, more will only risk an overuse injury and possibly losing muscle too fast. Save the extra energy for staying on your current path and more intense weight lifting sessions.

Ok, back to 45 minutes I go.... You guys are right. I will take that extra 15 minutes and use it to mix up some new meals instead of the standard chicken and tuna and oatmeal.

Pug

Hey everyone...

Another 45 minutes of cardio in this morning... yes wh0 and homer, I dropped it back to 45 minutes :D . I was actually a bit sluggish this morning but pressed on and after about 10 minutes on the elliptical I felt good.... that Lexapro and Benadryl at night knock me out cold, so it takes me a little longer to get moving in the AM.

Anyway, tomorrow is weigh in day and I am looking to be about 256(ish). Tomorrow is also the day where I will start keeping track of b/f%. I have a feeling I am losing more muscle than fat!!!! UGH! Anyway, I will get things straightened out and be even more successful.

Got lots of code to write today.... I will talk to you laterz!

Pug

To all software developers out there...

COMMENT YOUR FUCKING CODE!

Dismissed.

Pug

I just ate way toooooooooooo much salt..... Tomorrow is weigh-in day... can I flush this out so I don't retain a shitload of water???????? I lift tonight so maybe after I can put in an hour walking on treadmill?

HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Pug

To all software developers out there...

COMMENT YOUR FUCKING CODE!

Dismissed.

Pug

I do. But in a really tiny white font. :lol:

Mark

I just ate way toooooooooooo much salt..... Tomorrow is weigh-in day... can I flush this out so I don't retain a shitload of water???????? I lift tonight so maybe after I can put in an hour walking on treadmill?

HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Pug

Sure enough the sodium killed me on the scale. No more diet coke, period. No more pretzels, period. I prefer to see the numbers falll than to enjoy some artificial taste for 10 minutes. I was hoping to be about 255..256ish this morning and weighed-in at 257.2. Grrrr. Oh well, looking at my caloric intake and burn for the week, I did not gain a 1 pound of fat.... damn you water weight! My clothes still fit looser, etc... so I am not going to worry about it.

Ok, enough bitching and moaning. Off to the gym I go for a nice 45 minutes of cardio!!! I'll report back in a little while!

Pug

The gym was great. 45 minutes on the elliptical burning 815 calories and traveling just under 6 miles. Not too bad. The sweat was good and I could feel my sore muscles from last night's lifting session so all is well in Pug land. I hate the scale. The scale is so addicting, yet so meaningless if everything else points to success. Oh well, I will try and keep that in mind as I press on with another great week!

Gas is just outrageous. Walking home from the gym (500 feet away LOL) I walked by my car and remembered I needed gas and air in the tires so I quickly went to the station to fill up. $36!!! WOW, WTF! $2.50/gallon. This is getting ridiculous. We can spend millions on a shirry ass war; millions on Halibruton contracts, yet our monkey ass president can't get gas production/consumption in check. Great....... fuck him. Anyway, I got gas and air in the tires and I take the bus to work, LOL. At least my fiance will be set driving to work, the front passenger tire was SOOO LOW! It was at 19 psi and should have been 32 psi! Woman just don't pay attention to this stuff.. at least my fiance that is. My mom checks her tires all the time, go MOM!!! :cool:

Ok, I have a big meeting this morning at corporate HQ so I need to get spiffied up and get some things together. Have a great "over_the_hump_day" (Wednesday!).

Pug :flex:

hah... i think there might be some other factors you're not taking into consideration that the president can't control. OPEC controls the world, and the global resources control OPEC, as do terrorist attacks. where does bush come in? he just trys his best to keep everything ok.

Yes Wh0, I over-simplified it. However, this country is definitely in need of help. Gas, crime, education, etc.... many many problems. No trashing my journal with political nonsense. :)

Anywho!!! I gotta catch the metro! Laterzzzz.

Pug

Wow, what a nice day outside. It is absolutely beautiful!!! One thing I can't wait for is not sweating so damn much during warmer days. Maybe its just my genes, but I feel so gross going to and from work when I have to take metro or the bus... I sweat my ass off!

Anyway, work is nice today... not too stressful. I do need to catch up on some water consumption! Laterzzz!

Pug

Good morning everyone!

Another day, another early morning cardio session, its all part of my daily routine at this point. I do not dread it, nor do I absolutely love it, but I do love the results and I am really feeling great.

I bought some NY Strips at the store last and grilled them up... mmm mmm so very good. I am taking another one to work today to eat with some brown rice and green veggies as one of my meals. I did trim the fat off after cooking them. I also got some pork chops and chicken.... which I will be grilling up tonight or tomorrow. mmmm mmmm, I love having a lot of meat on hand, makes for easy meals!

I think I need to up my calories a bit. I am burning 800+ in the morning from my morning cardio alone. I find myself feeling hungry prior to my meals, even though I eat every 3 to 4 hours. I might try another 50-75 calories per meal to see if that helps.

Ok, I am off to work! Take care and have a good day. If you are in the DC Metro area, don't forget to take your umbrella, its gonna rain!

Pug:cool:

So I stop bugging Wh0 about this I am going to make a quick note about how much Dex and Glut to take post workout.... and whey too.

Post Workout
Dex - 60g
Whey - 30g
Glutamine Peptide - 10g

Sorry Wh0, I cleaned out all the emails from you forgetting you had given me this info multiple times previously.

Mike

Good morning everyone.

First off, last night was lifting night. It went AWESOME. They got a new leg extenion and leg curl machine so I added those to the full body workout. 3 sets of each with sets 2 and 3 going to failure. Anyway, my legs were on fire.... I had to hop of that leg extension machine on the failed rep cuz I thought flames were gonna flare up!!

So I get home and get out my shaker cup, the whey, the dex, and the glut. 1 scoop whey, 6 scoops dex, 1 scoop glut. Add them all to the cup add some water... stir... sniff, gag, chug, dry heave, chase with 1 bottle of water.... that is the worst tasting shit ever. The glut WILL NOT dissolve. I just drank the clumpy pieces. If you have any insight as to a better way to mix it all together, I am all ears!

This morning's cardio was nice. I forgot my headphones so I read the closed captioning on MTV, VH1, and NBC (pope's funeral). I burned 815 calories and traveled just under 6 miles in 45 minutes. It was good.... just part of my morning routine now. This is the 32nd day that I have done cardio... pretty amazed at my dedication. M-F cardio is nice... chugging away on the elliptical on Friday morning's is tough cuz you always think about sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday. I can't wait.

Anyway, I am off to get ready for work! Take care everyone and enjoy the weekend. I will be around.

Pug :flex:

Why is that every Friday my water consumption drops to like 36 oz. Geeez. I am usually going to the mens room every 20 minutes. I am just going to fill my water bottle up for the second time today. Shit.


Pug

Well the weekend is going great. I had a great cheat meal on Friday night... went to the outback and had a nice rib eye steak, some broccoli, bread, and some blooming onion. I got up early on Saturday and did some school work (thesis) and relaxed a bit. I grilled up some pork chops.. hmmmm so very good. Saturday night I lifted which went very well. I threw in some dumbell shrugs and alternating standing dumbell curls as well as some Arnold presses (although my form is a little funny I think). My biceps were on fire by the time I got home!

I took the advice from some people here and used a blender to make my PWO shake (whey, dex, glut). Blended with water it was drinkable as long as I chased it with a bottle of water. It definitely tasted better this go around! I do notice I am MUCH LESS sore than usual the next day. I have a couple sore msucles in my back but they are barely registering as sore... so the dex and glut definitely make a difference.

Someone posted this pic in the media gallery awhile ago and I can't get it out of my head. This is exactly what I would love to achieve (see pic below).

http://www.cfcoder.com/images/motivation.jpg

I don't necessarily need the nipple rings and lower lip piercing but this dude looks great! What do you think his b/f % is? Weight? I wonder how long it would take me to look like that!!!

Pug :)